Is there an easier way?? Sieving soil to fill my raised beds...

[Isleworth]

Finished diggin out one of the new raised beds today and after laying weed suppressant I have now started filling the bed... Filling with the soil we dug out but sieving it first to remove all the couche grass roots etc! (Also adding in well rotted farm manure)

Question: Is there an easier way of sieving the soil as I have a hand sieve and it's going to take all summer to fill the beds the speed it going ???




Thanks,

IsleworthTW7

[Isleworth]

[davyw1]

A bigger riddle ?

[cambourne7]

why bother ??

If you have to i have seen one person on here who streched chicken wire over what looks like a compost bin and they shovel the soil on the top and do it that way.

[growmore]

Using some 1x1 or 2x1 timber make a frame that will fit over the top of your barrow. Fasten some fine wire mesh over this .Using your shovel/spade throw your soil on to this, scrape it about a bit this will let soil fall through and leave your grass etc on top .You can then lift it off and tip rubbish off it ,, Your soil is  then in  your barrow ready to be tipped into your bed

[Old bird]

I'm with Cambourne on this one - why bother?  I am sure that there is no distinct advantage of sieved soil - except to get roots out - but if you are putting in manure you are potentially installing weed seed set in the manure!

Old Bird

[Robert_Brenchley]

I don't see any point in sieving soil either. One guy on my site deliberately leaves stones in place as the soil under them stays moister.

[Isleworth]

Thanks everyone... Guess i am just waisting my time and back muscles!

Will have ago with a larger holed mesh frame over the wheelbarrow to break up the soil and remove the weeds, think this will save a lot of time as I must have spent three hours yesterday sieving the soil with the hand sieve and hardly filled the bed LOL

What would I do without you lot for advice ;)


~

IsleworthTW7

[Andy H]

I am doing the same thing at the moment as building more raised beds.

Last year I built a revolving seive and it works great. Filled 7 sq metres of beds and my back didnt ache much!!!

It is a bit like a tombola but with chicken wire round it, I shovel a whole wheelbarrow into it then shut the door and spin it.

I will try and find the picture.

[Andy H]

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,35841.new/topicseen.html#new

found the old link for the pictures

[bluehousehill]

Hiya I sieved my raised beds for a while but it took a long time and I didnt bother with the last ones and they are doing really well. I sieved mine and it was good exercise but I wouldnt do it again to be honest. Cheers  :) ;)

[Ishard]

If you have all sieved soil in your raised beds they become impacted and repel water as the small molecules stick together and then you have to add vermiculite etc to loosen it. :(

Been there, done that!

[Andy H]

Mine are sieved but with quite a course mesh and the 8 I did last year were excellent.

I have added rock dust to 4 of the to increase mineral content to veg etc.

[ipt8]

There is no need . You simply get a fine tilth on the surface if you are starting seeds in the bed. You are destroying the natural structure of the soil. Adding compost and letting the worms do the work is better oer a longer period, there must be many other jobs you need to do :)

[Andy H]

Must be doing something right as we get great crops and the reason for the raised beds is that we dont walk on them! Everything goes in the compo heap straw manure and all the usual garden stuff grass and card. Some of the manure isnt broken right down bit the sieve tumbler removes it.

worms are doing a fine job! ;D

I aim to fill them all with stuff from the compost bins and leave the clay down below!