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Raised bed gardening is really the way to go, particularly if your native soil is terrible with clay, rock, or sand. With raised beds, you control the quality of your soil, leading to healthier plants and a better harvest. The only problem is that filling those raised beds with high-quality soil can be pretty expensive — but as a gardener, you know that everything starts with healthy soil, and you don’t want to cheap out, right?
Fortunately, there’s good news for both the conscientious gardener and the budget-strapped homeowner. When you have raised beds that are 18” – 24” deep, you can layer the material in your raised beds, conserving the top 12” for your more expensive, high-quality soil. Here’s how.
Layering Soil in a Raised Garden Bed
In this video, Birjette, a local organic seed grower from San Diego Seed Company discusses a method of layering soil in a raised garden bed known as Hugelkultur. Watch the full Layering Soil in a Raised Garden Bed video on the Kellogg Garden Youtube Channel.
How to Layer
All of your layering materials need to be organic and toxin/petroleum free. Over time, the base layers will decompose, but remember how deep your layers are when digging and turning soil so as not to disrupt your course, raw material.
1. Wood: Lay a thin layer of small twigs, branches, or bark at the bottom of your raised bed. You can also add other materials like newspaper and manure at this first step.
2. Less expensive soil: Add in a less expensive soil or loam, old potting soil, or native soil mixed with inexpensive soil. Don’t add any soil that has weeds in it, potting soil that is moldy or has a pest infestation, or the like. In this layer, you can also add in some leaf mold, compost from your pile, and grass clippings.
3. High-quality soil: Most raised bed plants need 6-12” of good quality soil, so I aim for that depth when I add the “good stuff.” Fill your bed to within an inch under the top edge of the bed — I actually fill mine right to the top, as soil has a way of settling down after watering in.
Note: If you have an existing bed with old soil in it, you can “top” it off with higher quality organic raised bed soil. This is particularly true if your old soil has settled a number of inches down and you not only need better quality but more depth.
Kellogg Garden Organics
All Natural Raised Bed & Potting Mix
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**Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT.For a comparable product in these statesclick here.
Other Cost-Cutting Strategies
• Use 100% high-quality soil in your smaller or shallower beds. If your bed is a 4 x 4 or 12” deep or less, fill it with the best soil you can get.
• Buy bulk at a landscape supply yard, which can save you more than 50% of your budget.
• If you opt to buy in bulk, arrange to pick it up yourself if you have a truck. You’ll save on delivery, which can be $100 – $150. In addition, some landscape supply yards have a minimum purchase of several yards, and you may only need one.
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Leave a ReplyHow to layer raised bed soil.
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Hi Amy, if you’re looking for even more information on layering organic materials in a raised bed, check out this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t5TNZ8NqeM. If you have any questions, we’re happy to help!
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If I have mulch that had mushrooms last year, can I use that for the mulch layer in my raised bed?
Reply
Hi Tricia, mushrooms can naturally occur in soils and mulches and are completely safe to use in the garden.
When gardening organically, one has to think differently than conventional gardening. Mushrooms are naturally occurring in all soils but can be more prevalent in organic soils.
Mushroom blooms usually occur in decaying matter when the soil is exceptionally damp, either through overwatering or poor drainage. We tend to notice them more as we transition from the warmer summer months into cooler fall or winter months because our watering habits tend to be more frequent in the summer due to the heat. We have to remember to “back off” the watering as the air cools and soils take longer to dry out. Because mushroom mycelia (roots) grow on decaying organic material, plants are safe from the mushrooms, and it is not uncommon to have mushroom blooms happen with rich organic material. Reduce the amount of watering to the area and ensure your soil drains properly. The mushrooms will disappear in a few days.
Please let us know if you have any additional questions, we’re happy to help!
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As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. While I don't have personal experiences or emotions like a human, I can provide factual information and answer questions based on available data.
Regarding the concepts mentioned in the article about raised bed gardening, let's discuss each one in detail:
Raised Bed Gardening
Raised bed gardening is a popular method of gardening, especially when the native soil is of poor quality, such as clay, rock, or sand. With raised beds, you have more control over the quality of the soil, leading to healthier plants and better harvests. The main advantage of raised bed gardening is that it allows you to create a customized growing environment for your plants.
Layering Soil in a Raised Garden Bed
Layering soil in a raised garden bed is a technique known as Hugelkultur. It involves creating layers of organic materials to improve soil fertility and moisture retention. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to layer soil in a raised garden bed:
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Wood: Start by laying a thin layer of small twigs, branches, or bark at the bottom of your raised bed. This layer helps with drainage and provides aeration for the soil.
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Less expensive soil: Add a layer of less expensive soil or loam, old potting soil, or native soil mixed with inexpensive soil. Avoid using soil that has weeds, mold, or pest infestations. You can also add leaf mold, compost, and grass clippings to this layer.
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High-quality soil: Most raised bed plants require 6-12 inches of good quality soil. Fill the bed with high-quality soil, leaving about an inch below the top edge of the bed. Over time, the layers will decompose, enriching the soil.
If you already have an existing bed with old soil, you can top it off with higher quality organic raised bed soil, especially if the old soil has settled and you need both better quality and more depth.
Cost-Cutting Strategies
The article also mentions some cost-cutting strategies for filling raised beds with soil:
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Use high-quality soil in smaller or shallower beds: If you have smaller or shallower beds, you can fill them entirely with high-quality soil, as the quantity required will be less.
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Buy in bulk: Purchasing soil in bulk from a landscape supply yard can save you more than 50% of your budget. If you have a truck, picking up the soil yourself can save on delivery costs.
It's important to note that the availability of specific products may vary depending on your location.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article about raised bed gardening and soil layering. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
