June 8, 2024

VIDEO: How to Fill a Raised Bed and Save 60%+ on Soil Costs


Get the raised beds I use in my garden: https://shop.epicgardening.com/ Raised garden beds are my preferred way to grow in my urban garden, but filling them can cost a pretty penny. Now, there are MANY ways to fill a garden bed on the cheap, and this is just ONE of them. It makes use of existing organic matter on your property (sticks, logs, brush, grass clippings, unfinished compost, etc.) to fill the bottom half of your bed.

Then, fill the remainder with a high-quality mix that you can either buy or make yourself. This method is particularly useful when growing in TALL (18″+) beds, as you don’t need the perfect soil mix all of the way down. Over time, the fill material will break down and become food for bacteria, fungi, and other soil life and turn into high-quality soil for your garden over the years.

SPONSOR: ESPOMA ORGANIC

Espoma Organic has been organic from the start and makes absolutely epic raised bed soil mixes, potting mixes, and organic fertilizers. Their Raised Bed mix is my favorite bagged mix to fill a bed up. To find out where to buy, click here: https://www.espoma.com/where-to-buy/

IN THIS VIDEO

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Other links may be affiliate links in which we receive a commission.

→ Full Article: https://www.epicgardening.com/how-to-fill-a-tall-raised-garden-bed/
→ Espoma Raised Bed Mix: https://www.espoma.com/where-to-buy/
→ Square Foot Gardening: https://amzn.to/2VeTZU2
→ Birdies Tall 6-in-1 Beds: https://shop.epicgardening.com/products/tall-6-in-1-metal-raised-garden-bed

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28 thoughts on “VIDEO: How to Fill a Raised Bed and Save 60%+ on Soil Costs

  1. Would a mixture of just compost and peat moss be good soil for vegetables? I have a raised bed thats about 2 feet tall with no clue what to fill it with lmao.

  2. I do have a couple of 8x2x2 stock tanks I am going to use for vegetables. A couple of questions regarding prepping the tank. I am thinking of drilling holes all over the bottom, putting in a layer of rock then continuing as directed in this video. Am I on target or do you have suggestions?

  3. Can you clear up some confusion for me? I've read (and heard you say it too) to watch out for wood chips in your soil because it isn't broken down yet, and the process of breaking down takes nitrogen from plants growing in it. How is putting logs and other organic material at the bottom different? Won't the "filler" materials start to break down and use up the nitrogen my plants need? Is the difference simply that this is happening low enough it doesn't reach the roots?

  4. Glad I found this video! Thank you! This will save me $$. I just bought a raised bed and several people suggested filling it up halfway with plastic bottles. What is your take on this advice? I don’t have a lot of organic in my yard however I can possibly gather some from elsewhere. I see some people suggested cardboard. I can try that as well.

  5. Contact local landfill they usually have a area for organic landfill where city landscapers take mulched bushes and grass clippings it’s already composted and can fill a trailer dirt cheap some sell it in bags to if you don’t have the ability to fill a utility trailer

  6. yo, fellow san diegan here. In another video you said you had soil delivered. What was the name of that company and would you recommend them? Any other bulk soil recommendations? I need about 4.5cubic yards of it. Thanks in advance!

  7. Is it worth adding a compost accelerant to the bottom (bottled or even something like manure or dirt)? Also, is it worth taking the top expensive stuff out late fall and churning the stuff on the bottom and, perhaps, if decomposed enough, adding more yard refuse to the bottom and churning some of the bottom stuff into the top? Or is it just too big of a spring task for any "yield" it might bring?

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