Discover how to fill your raised garden beds and save money on soil costs.
In this article, we will explore the process of filling a raised garden bed with organic matter and soil to create an ideal environment for growing vegetables. Mike from Self-Sufficiently provides a step-by-step guide on how to fill a raised garden bed with high sides, sharing his own experience and tips that can help take advantage of any situation.
Mike begins by emphasizing the importance of using good organic matter and solid organic matter like logs and sticks to create a healthy environment for plants. He also stresses the need to avoid overloading the bed with too much organic matter, which can turn it into a compost pile and burn the roots of the plants. Mike shares his own evolution in filling raised garden beds and the importance of using a half-half formula of organic matter and soil for the top 30 centimeters.
Key Takeaways
- Use good organic matter and solid organic matter like logs and sticks to create a healthy environment for plants.
- Avoid overloading the bed with too much organic matter, which can turn it into a compost pile and burn the roots of the plants.
- Use a half-half formula of organic matter and soil for the top 30 centimeters.
Preparation for Filling the Raised Garden Bed
To fill a raised garden bed, one needs to follow some basic steps to ensure that the plants grow healthy and strong. Mike from Self-Sufficiently shares some tips and tricks based on his own experience in filling large beds. He recommends starting by placing organic matter and solid materials like logs and twigs at the bottom of the bed.
Mike advises against using weeds or other fill materials that may surface closer to the surface and cause weed problems. Grasses and dug-up soil can be used, but they should be placed a foot or two underneath the surface. Mike also suggests avoiding using gravel or crushed materials in the bottom half of the bed, as it is not necessary for drainage. Instead, he recommends using a half-half formula of organic matter and soil for the top 30 centimeters of the bed, mixed with compost and manure.
Mike stresses the importance of not overloading the bed with too much organic matter, as this can turn it into a compost pile and burn the roots of the plants. He advises using good garden soil mixed with compost and manure for the top half of the bed and a layer of ordinary soil underneath.
Mike also recommends using big clumps of grass for added protection from weeds. He suggests turning these clumps upside down and throwing them in, allowing them to rot under the ground and turn into worm food.
Once the bed is filled with the proper good soil for the top half, Mike does not compact it down, as this is not ideal for growing vegetables. He also advises overfilling the bed at the beginning to allow for a bit of sinkage.
Mike recommends adding well-rotted cow manure to the top of the bed, which provides nutrients, water holding capacity, and structural capacity. He suggests breaking it up carefully by hand and sprinkling it around the top of the bed. Mike does not add any extra fertilizer like blood and bone to the bed, as he thinks the cow manure will be good enough. However, he may add it later if the vegetables are lacking in nitrogen.
Overall, following these steps will help ensure that the raised garden bed is filled properly and the plants grow healthy and strong.
Initial Steps for Filling the Raised Garden Bed
Mike from Self-Sufficiently shares his tips and tricks on how to fill a raised garden bed with high sides on a budget. He advises against using weeds or anything similar as fill closer to the surface as they will invariably surface and start weeding throughout the bed. Instead, he suggests using offcuts, weeds with seeds, or grasses and dug-up soil a foot or two underneath.
Mike’s evolution with raised garden beds began in 2006 when he first filled them with gravel and crushed materials, following the instructions from the company. However, he found that drainage materials were not necessary unless the base was filled with clay. Instead, he recommends stacking the base with good organic matter, solid organic matter like logs and sticks, and rough soil mixed with organic matter. This mixture will absorb moisture and provide a home for insects, microbes, fungi, and worms, which will help plants grow healthy by allowing them to absorb nutrients they otherwise would not be able to on their own.
Mike advises against turning the raised garden bed into a compost heap. Instead, he suggests using a half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil, with the top 30 centimeters being good organic garden soil mixed with compost and manure, and a layer of ordinary soil underneath. He also recommends using rough soil mixed with organic matter as it provides the best of both worlds.
To prevent sinkage, Mike suggests walking down the rubbish fill to compact it a little bit before filling it with the proper good soil for the top half. He also advises against compacting the good soil down as it is not great for growing veggies. When using big clumps of grass, Mike suggests turning them upside down and throwing them in the bed for added protection. They will rot under the ground and turn into worm food.
Mike recommends overfilling the bed at the beginning to allow for a bit of sinkage. He suggests breaking up the cow manure carefully by hand and sprinkling it around the top of the bed to get the goodness of the cow manure, the nutrients, the worms, and the water-holding capacity. He did not add extra fertilizer like blood and bone to the bed but might add it later if the veggies are lacking in nitrogen.
By following these initial steps, gardeners can create a raised garden bed filled with good organic matter and soil, providing the best environment for their plants to grow healthy.
Evolution of Filling Methods
Over the years, Mike from Self-Sufficiently has evolved his method for filling raised garden beds. Initially, he followed the instructions from the company that he bought the beds from and used gravel and crushed drainage materials in the bottom half of the beds. However, he found that this was not necessary and instead recommends stacking the base with good organic matter, logs, sticks, and twigs that will take a long time to break down. As they break down, they will absorb moisture and be home for insects, microbes, fungi, and worms, which will help the plants grow healthy by allowing them to absorb nutrients that they otherwise could not on their own.
Mike advises against turning raised garden beds into compost heaps. He explains that there is a big difference between filling the bed with organic matter and soil to grow veggies and filling it full of organic matter with a little touch of soil or compost on top, which turns it into a compost pile. If overloaded with organic matter, the bed will be a compost pile, and when the plants are planted, all the roots will get burnt, and they won’t grow. Therefore, it is essential to have the half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil, where the top 30 centimeters are good organic garden soil mixed with compost and manure, and the bottom has a layer of ordinary soil underneath.
Mike also recommends using rough soil mixed with organic matter, such as Tiger soil and grass, to give the best of both worlds. He advises against using weeds or anything like that as fill closer to the surface because they’ll invariably dig them up eventually, and they’ll start weeding throughout the bed. Instead, they should be right at the bottom, a couple of feet down, where they’ll never surface and will eventually turn into worm food.
To prevent sinkage, Mike walks on the bed to compact it down a little bit when filling it with the rubbish fill. However, he doesn’t compact the top half of the bed because that’s not great for growing veggies. When using big clumps of grass, he turns them upside down and throws them in the bed for added protection so that they don’t have any chance of growing up through that foot of soil.
In conclusion, Mike has learned over the years that it is not necessary to use drainage materials in the bottom half of raised garden beds. Instead, stacking the base with good organic matter, logs, sticks, and twigs that will take a long time to break down is a better option. He advises against turning raised garden beds into compost heaps and recommends using the half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil. Finally, he cautions against using weeds or anything like that as fill closer to the surface.
Importance of Organic Matter
When filling a raised garden bed, it is important to use a mixture of good organic matter and solid organic matter. Logs, sticks, and twigs take a long time to break down and as they do, they absorb moisture and become home to insects, microbes, fungi, and worms. This helps plants grow healthy by allowing them to absorb nutrients that they otherwise would not be able to on their own.
It is important not to overload the raised garden bed with too much organic matter, as this can turn it into a compost pile. This can burn the roots of the plants and prevent them from growing. To avoid this, a half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil is recommended. The top 30 centimeters should be good organic garden soil mixed with compost and manure, while the bottom layer should be ordinary soil.
Grasses and dug up soil can also be used as fill for a garden bed, but they should be placed a foot or two underneath the surface to prevent them from surfacing and weeding throughout the bed. When collecting soil from around the property or a job site, it is possible to dig up garden worms and other microbes and little animals living in the soil. These will start to live in the new home when placed in the raised bed.
When filling the bed with fill, it is recommended to compact it down to prevent sinkage. However, when filling it with good soil for the top half, it should not be compacted down as this is not great for growing vegetables. Clumps of grass can be added to the bed for added protection and to prevent them from growing up through the soil.
It is important to note that no extra fertilizer like blood and bone should be added to the bed if cow manure has been used. If the vegetables are lacking in nitrogen, a Sobel fertilizer or a bit of bottom boning can be added later on.
Difference Between Compost Heap and Raised Garden Bed
When filling a raised garden bed, it is important to understand the difference between using organic matter and soil to grow vegetables versus filling it with organic matter and turning it into a compost heap. Mike from Self-Sufficiently emphasizes the importance of not overloading the raised garden bed with too much organic matter, as this can cause the roots of the plants to burn and not grow properly.
To avoid this, Mike suggests using a half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil. The top 30 centimeters of the bed should be filled with good organic garden soil mixed with compost and manure, while the bottom layer should consist of ordinary soil. Mike also recommends using solid organic matter such as logs, sticks, and twigs that will take a long time to break down. As they break down, they will absorb moisture and provide a home for insects, microbes, fungi, and worms, all of which will help plants grow healthy by allowing them to absorb nutrients that they would not be able to on their own.
It is important to note that a raised garden bed should not be turned into a compost heap. Instead, it should be filled with a mixture of soil and organic matter to create a healthy growing environment for plants. A compost heap generates a lot of heat, and if a raised garden bed is overloaded with organic matter, it can become too hot for plants to grow properly.
Furthermore, Mike suggests avoiding using weeds or grasses as fill material, as they can eventually surface and start to grow throughout the bed. Instead, he recommends using rough soil mixed with organic matter, as this will provide the best of both worlds. When filling the bed with fill material, Mike suggests walking on it to compact it down and prevent sinkage.
In summary, the difference between a compost heap and a raised garden bed lies in the amount of organic matter used. While a compost heap should be filled with a lot of organic matter to generate heat and break down materials quickly, a raised garden bed should be filled with a half-half formula of organic matter and soil to provide a healthy growing environment for plants.
Variety of Fill Options
When filling a raised garden bed, there are a variety of options available that can be used to create a healthy and nutrient-rich environment for plants to grow. Mike from Self-Sufficiently suggests using a mix of organic matter and soil, with a layer of ordinary soil underneath. This ensures a good balance of nutrients, moisture retention, and aeration for optimal plant growth.
Mike recommends using a mix of rough soil and organic matter, such as grass and dug-up soil, for the bottom half of the bed. This will provide a solid base that will take a long time to break down, and will be home to various insects, microbes, fungi, and worms that can help plants grow healthy.
It is important to avoid overloading the bed with too much organic matter, as this can turn the bed into a compost pile and burn the roots of plants. Mike suggests using a half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil for the top 30 centimeters of the bed, mixed with compost and manure for added nutrients.
To prevent sinkage, Mike recommends compacting the fill by walking on it, but not compacting the top half of the bed, as this is not ideal for growing vegetables. He also suggests using big clumps of grass for added protection against weeds, and turning them upside down to rot under the ground and turn into worm food.
Finally, Mike recommends adding well-rotted cow manure to the top layer of the bed for added nutrients and water retention. This can be mixed with a bit of moss and tilled into the bed, or simply sprinkled on top for the worms to break down and enrich the soil.
Overall, there are many options available for filling a raised garden bed, but using a mix of organic matter and soil with a good balance of nutrients and moisture retention is key for optimal plant growth.
Compacting the Fill
When filling a raised garden bed, it is important to compact the fill to prevent sinkage. Mike recommends walking on the fill to compress it down a little bit. This will help to prevent sinkage that happens after a while. It is important to avoid throwing soil on top of loose material as it might create sinkholes.
Mike suggests using a half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil. This will provide the best of both worlds. He recommends having the top 30 centimeters of good organic garden soil mixed with compost and manure, followed by a layer of ordinary soil underneath.
Mike also advises against overloading the bed with too much organic matter, as this could turn the raised garden bed into a compost heap. This can cause the roots of the plants to get burnt, preventing them from growing.
When using big clumps of grass in the bed, Mike turns them upside down and throws them in. This will help to prevent them from growing up through the soil. The clumps will rot under the ground and turn into worm food.
Mike recommends overfilling the bed at the beginning to allow for a bit of sinkage. Once the bed is filled with the proper good soil for the top half, it should not be compacted down as this is not great for growing vegetables.
Finally, Mike suggests adding a little bit of well-rotted cow manure to the top layer of the bed. This will provide nutrients, water holding capacity, and structural capacities. It will also attract worms to the bed, which will help to break down the organic matter.
Overall, compacting the fill is an important step in filling a raised garden bed. Following Mike’s tips and tricks will help to ensure that the bed is filled with the right mixture of organic matter and soil, and prevent sinkage in the long run.
Adding the Top Soil
When filling a raised garden bed, it is important to use a mixture of good organic matter and soil to ensure healthy plant growth. Mike from Self-Sufficiently suggests using a half-half formula of half organic matter and half soil. He recommends using good garden soil mixed with compost and manure for the top 30 centimeters, and then a layer of ordinary soil underneath.
To start filling the bed, Mike suggests using offcuts, weeds, and grasses as fill for the bottom of the bed. However, he warns against using weeds or anything similar as fill closer to the surface as they may eventually surface and start weeding throughout the bed. Grasses and dug-up soil can also be used as fill, but should be placed a foot or two underneath the surface.
Mike also recommends using solid organic matter like logs, sticks, and twigs that take a long time to break down. As they break down, they will absorb moisture and provide a home for insects, microbes, fungi, and worms that help plants grow healthy by allowing them to absorb nutrients that they otherwise would not be able to on their own.
When filling the bed with the topsoil, Mike suggests not to compact it down as it is not great for growing vegetables. Instead, he uses big clumps of grass for added protection against any chance of growing up through the soil.
To allow for a bit of sinkage, Mike overfills the bed at the beginning. He recommends not adding any extra fertilizer like blood and bone to the bed as the cow manure will be good enough. However, if the vegetables are lacking in nitrogen later on, he suggests using a Sobel fertilizer or a bit of bottom boning and watering it in.
Overall, using a mixture of good organic matter and soil, solid organic matter, and grasses for added protection will ensure a healthy and abundant garden bed.
Incorporating Cow Manure
When filling a raised garden bed, it is important to incorporate the right amount of organic matter and soil. In this video, the speaker shares his experience and tips on how to fill a raised garden bed with cow manure.
The speaker recommends using a half-and-half formula of organic matter and soil. He suggests using rough soil mixed with organic matter, such as cow manure, for the best of both worlds. The cow manure should be well-rotted and have been sitting for months to ensure that it is safe to use in the bed.
To incorporate the cow manure, the speaker suggests adding it to the top layer of the bed and mixing it in. He also recommends using clumps of grass for added protection against weeds and to prevent the cow manure from growing up through the soil.
When filling the bed with the cow manure, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not overloading it with too much organic matter. This will prevent the bed from turning into a compost pile and burning the roots of the plants.
Overall, incorporating cow manure into a raised garden bed can provide essential nutrients for plants to grow healthy and strong. By following the speaker’s tips and recommendations, gardeners can create a thriving garden bed that produces an abundance of vegetables and fruits.
Potential Need for Additional Fertilizers
In the video, Mike from Self-Sufficiently discusses the importance of using a half-and-half formula of organic matter and soil in raised garden beds. He emphasizes the need to avoid overloading the bed with too much organic matter, which can turn it into a compost pile and burn the roots of plants.
While Mike does not mention the need for additional fertilizers in the video, it is important to note that using a mixture of compost and manure can provide essential nutrients for plant growth. Depending on the quality of the soil and the specific needs of the plants being grown, additional fertilizers may be necessary to ensure healthy growth and high yields.
It is recommended to conduct soil tests and consult with a gardening expert to determine the appropriate fertilizers and application rates for specific plants and soil types. In addition, using natural fertilizers such as bone meal, blood meal, and fish emulsion can provide a sustainable and eco-friendly option for nutrient supplementation.