Raised Beds

[stevew451]

Hello have recently built the frame for a raised bed but need soil to fill
Does anyone have a suggestion where i can get some and what type in the Durham area thanks

[stevew451]

[davyw1]

That depends on where you are in the Durham area.

[kt.]

What about skimming some off the paths?  Depending on what you want to plant in it, it will also require some well rotted homemade compost or manure.

Every couple of years I skim the top soil from in my greenhouse and replace with well rotted and fresh compost.  I spread this soil around the plot - if you have a greenhouse you could put this soil in your beds.

[Duke Ellington]

Another way is to prepare the soil that is already in the raised bed really well add a good amount of compost and plant in it . Each season add more and build it up gradually. It doesn't have to be filled to the top to grow veg in! We created 11 raised beds on our allotment this year ...it would have cost alot to fill each one. We still got a great harvest this year.

Duke :)

[Mr Smith]

what I did was to put soil off the lotty with some manure then topped it off with compost or if you don't mind spending a few quid Focus and B&Q sell packaged top soil :)

[STEVEB]

tried b+q topsoil in the garden it was more like a bag of pebbles.
Talk to local builders its cheaper for them to tip excess topsoil on your plot than it is to pay the council rates for commercial waste

[stevew451]

I live in the sacriston area and yes thankyou for the advice but the beds are on a slope with very por natural soil and are 9 inches on heigh side and 18 on the low side you see my problem also in a residential area the smel of manure my not make me a favourite

[manicscousers]

hiya, Stevew451, welcome to the site..green manure, sowed, grown until it's quite lush, then dug in, would help with the fertility.
our well rotted manure (7 years to 10 years old ) from a farm, didn't smell at all  ;D
ah, just read your original post, sorry..someone has just said, on bargain thread, asda's clearing out their potting and multi purpose compost cheap, might help if mixed in ?

[Old bird]

Hi Steve W

I agree with manics about manure not smelling!  It doesn't even need to be 7 years old either.  Sounds like you are going to be busy though!

Good luck with it.

Old Bird

[davyw1]

Countrywise Garden Supplies near Sunderland for all your garden needs
Carr House Farm
Murton
Seaham
Co Durham
SR7 9TWMap
Tel: 0191 526 3193
Fax: 0191 526 7977
Em
http://sunderland.gumtree.com/cgi-bin/list_postings.pl?posting_cat=8406&search_terms=top+soil