Soil by the ton...

**sewer rat** · 02-03-2009, 09:03 PM

Originally posted by RedThorn View Post

Hi all

Quick question, does anyone know which one contains more volume? a cubic metre or 1 ton. If it was water, I'd know(answer is they're same)

but with soil, the density is different.

With all the raised beds, Ive been looking as need a lot

but sold in the two ways......
Any help in this would be much appreciated...

thanks

Edit to fix spelling....

Dunno the immediate answer but why not work out the volume of your raised beds (H X W X L) then you'll know the soil you need to order by volume.

**lynda66** · 02-03-2009, 09:06 PM

well a ton of water and a ton of soil weigh the same

and a ton of soil is a flipping lot when you have to move it by wheel barrow .... does that help?

**RedThorn** · 02-03-2009, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by sewer rat View Post

Dunno the immediate answer but why not work out the volume of your raised beds (H X W X L) then you'll know the soil you need to order by volume.

LOL 'cause that would've been to damned logical! *kicks self* DOH!!!!! anyone got a can of duff and a doughnut?

EDIT : Spelling again....

**NOG** · 03-03-2009, 01:14 PM

Back to your original point.

Cannot work out the volume of one ton/tonne of soil. Because it depends on the water content at the time you buy it. Put one ton in the sun and the next day it will nolonger be a ton.

Buy it by the volume size Yard/metre and you know what you are getting.

**FoxHillGardener** · 03-03-2009, 01:54 PM

Those "one tonne" bags they sell stuff in are actually 1 cubic metre and so depeding on what you order it may or may not be an actual tonne. I think it's usually just used short-hand for that size bag

**lynda66** · 03-03-2009, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by NOG View Post

Back to your original point.

Cannot work out the volume of one ton/tonne of soil. Because it depends on the water content at the time you buy it. Put one ton in the sun and the next day it will nolonger be a ton.

Buy it by the volume size Yard/metre and you know what you are getting.

and by that theory, buy it in summer when it's dry and you'll get more

**rana** · 03-03-2009, 04:21 PM

I've never seen much soil floating on top of lakes and ponds so guess it must be heavier than water..............................

**NOG** · 04-03-2009, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by lynda66 View Post

and by that theory, buy it in summer when it's dry and you'll get more

Yep.....go to the garden centre and buy a 70lt bag of compost. Take it home and leave it out in the rain.

It will still be 70litre but it will weigh more due to the added water.

When you buy sand soil in bulk there will be a stated water content normally 6%.

**RedThorn** · 05-03-2009, 06:59 PM

thank's all for your responses, much appreciated... I measured out the beds and calculated I need 3,5 cubic metres!!!!!! (Think I best slow down on the building

)

Can just scrape together the money for 1 cubic metre...so next question

Can I use 2-3 inches of horse manure then 5-6 inches of soil/compost? I can get some well rotted manure but most won't be ideally rotted - and that's a free supply. If I can part fill wit hthe manure, then the soil will go further....

**Eco-Chic** · 05-03-2009, 11:49 PM

Can you dig out some of the topsoil from your paths to use in your beds? And maybe use 2-3" cardboard and newspaper in the bottom of the beds.

If the manure isn't very well rotted you risk burning the roots of your plants.

**NOG** · 06-03-2009, 11:47 AM

I wouldn't bother with buying soil. I would get all the grass cuttings and free manure you can lay your hands on and bung it in. Then let it compost in the bed.

**rana** · 06-03-2009, 04:55 PM

If you can half fill with manure/grass clippings etc. then top it off with a decent depth of soil you will have created a hot bed. The gradual breakdown of the manure will release heat which should warm the soil above. (great for marrows and pumpkins)

**RedThorn** · 06-03-2009, 05:03 PM

thanks all and been reading the other thread about raised beds too.

Cheers eco-chick, that confirms what I was worried about.

LOL being impatient and want to fill and use quickly

The 1 bed is 19.5 ft long and 2 ft deep and 2 ft high, the first third is filled with all of the last 2 yrs worth of compost I've managed to make

Think from the advice here, I'll get 1m3 bag of soil and put only the well rotted manure in some and top over for the butternuts etc the rest, will get what they get and towards the end of the season, I'll top up the beds with more well rotted......

**allotmentlady** · 07-03-2009, 04:29 PM

Hi hun, make sure the horse manure is well rotted, also another tiop, if you have the room on your lottie, make an area available for more horse manure.....let it rot down till next year, keep it covered and hey preston lovely rotted horse manure for your raised beds.

:-) kepp smiling

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