Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Keeping costs of filling a raised bed down?

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Keeping costs of filling a raised bed down?

    I have cleared an over run part of my plot and decided to put down some raised beds. Can I fill each raised bed with some mulch/bark before filling with soil to keep costs down?
    lostontheplot.wordpress.com

  • #2
    I would try to get hold of some manure ...stables often give it away if you can pick it up.

    Comment


    • #3
      Look at lasagne gardening. You can build up the lower part of the bed with anything compostable, ideally in layers (like a lasagne) of green then brown materials. Use things like grass clippings, leaves, shredded paper, upside down turf, etc. then add topsoil to that and you have an instant raised bed at a fraction of the cost. It may sink slightly as it composts and breaks down over the year, but you can top it up in the autumn with more compost.

      Comment


      • #4
        If you bury bark or unrotted mulch under soil, it will tend to leach some of the nitrogen from the soil and will easily get mixed in with worm activity. Bark and mulch are much better covering the surface and then being drawn back to plant or sow. That way there is little nitrogen robbery.

        If you have a good cheap source of mushroom compost, I have found that a fairly good growing medium over shallow soil, though it rots down fairly rapidly and after a year tends to disappear.

        If you really don't have any soil under your raised bed that can simply be worked and improved with compost, then consider buying in a load or two of good quality top soil. This is often far less expensive than manures especially when it is being cleared from building sites.

        Comment


        • #5
          Also, check with your council to see if they offer free compost (one of our local recycling sites do ~ or at least did) you just have to rock up with a shovel and some sacks to get it.
          While wearing your night clothes, plant cucumbers on the 1st May before the sun comes up, and they will not be attacked by bugs.

          Comment


          • #6
            Do you need them raised more than a few inches? That's all I need on my clay soil to get improved drainage - i.e. all the benefits of a raised bed. I achieved that by digging out the paths and putting the soil on the beds.

            Different story for anyone disabled who cannot bend etc. and needs decently tall beds.
            K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

            Comment


            • #7
              Depend why you made raised beds. I made 11 beds but only because I wanted a tidy plot so can be easily mantained by workings around them no drainage problem. So I gust put them and dig the soil so as fluffed up a bit then over the years I will fill it up with compost, spent compost from my tomato, manure, and anything I ca n put my hand on it. If I want to filled them up I probably need 7/10 tone bags of compost.
              Last edited by Sarico; 25-03-2015, 12:14 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                I needed new beds, paid 30 quid for 3 tonne of horse welll rotten manure, will do it again next year, 3 tonne only made 2 beds at 12 ft x3 ft. 10 ins high.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by libbyloulou View Post
                  I needed new beds, paid 30 quid for 3 tonne of horse welll rotten manure, will do it again next year, 3 tonne only made 2 beds at 12 ft x3 ft. 10 ins high.
                  That's a good price.I wish I have something like that close by. The cheapest is the council her but still charge you 37 for a ton bag.

                  Comment

                  Latest Topics

                  Collapse

                  Recent Blog Posts

                  Collapse
                  Working...
                  X