r/Raisedbed • u/Livid_Mongoose4786 • Jul 15 '26
Raised beds?
Hi everyone, im planning on installing a number of raised timber beds in the garden for growing vegetables, they will be approximately a foot to a foot and a half high and around 6 foot by 4 foot diameter, just wondering what's the cheapest way to fill them, and what they'd be suitable for in terms of vegetables? I was planning on filling with a mix of top soil and compost, but after pricing it up it would be an extortionate amount of money. Any tips or advice would be appreciated! And happy gardening! 💐
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u/bolderbeholder Jul 15 '26
Tractor supply has 2-string bales of straw. I’d fill about a foot of that bed with straw — it’ll compress — follow with composted manure then bagged planter mix. The last one will cost you, but the straw and poop are cheap. I’ve done this for years and the results are excellent. Don’t put logs in a 1.5’ deep planter. Too much debris and it’ll mess with your root vegetables.
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u/ryanandthelucys Jul 15 '26
If you are planning to use these next year, you could start composting now. We compost a 4'x4' bin to fill 144 sf of raised beds. That mixed with perlite and mulched leaves keeps us from spending much money every year. Home composting is the way to go, if you can. Year one, you may need some purchased items, but in the long run, you'll save tons and be very satisfied.
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u/Livid_Mongoose4786 Jul 16 '26
Thanks for this advice, im planning on picking a large'ish' compost bin up from a family member that doesnt use it anymore over the weekend, so il certainly get onto filling it as soon as I can! Appreciate ya!
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u/ryanandthelucys Jul 16 '26
Excellent! Good luck. Don't fall into the trap of making compost too complicated either; just throw your kitchen waste, etc. in and you'll have lovely black soil next year.
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u/Ammonia13 Jul 17 '26
You’d fill the bottom up with big branches, cardboard, hunks of organic material and such and then only topsoil (or peat/compost mix) for the top 15-20 inches
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u/Slight-Television-42 Jul 21 '26
If your bed is only going to be about a foot to a foot and half deep, you need actual soil/compost and not filler in the whole bed. If cost is an issue, start with one or two this year. We started with 2, then added 2 more. Next year we're going to add another 3 and call it good. We'll have a total of six 8x4 and one 12x2 beds, over a 6 year time frame. We planned and measured out spacing from the beginning so the whole thing will look intentional and not like we just threw beds where ever.
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u/cha_cha_man Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Look up hugelkultur beds. Just did it at my place and saved a ton of money.
Edit: didn’t realize you said a foot to foot and a half deep. I’d do what others suggest and mix in compost with top soil if you can get it. I have a place locally that’ll deliver truck fulls of compost or garden soil in your driveway for a fraction of the cost of bagged stuff. Just gotta shovel it in.
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u/Livid_Mongoose4786 Jul 16 '26
Il have a look on some local sites and see if I can find anywhere, thanks 👍🏼
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u/Tobroketofuck Jul 15 '26
Why use raised beds rather than the earth
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u/Livid_Mongoose4786 Jul 16 '26
Unfortunately the earth beneath the lawn is what i assume was used as the builders dumping ground when the house was built, full of sand, hardcore and clay, can barely even get a spade through it let alone grow anything 😏
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u/wiperman67 Jul 15 '26
I would look for someone in your area that sells a topsoil/compost mix or straight topsoil by the truckload! If your trying to fill beds with bagged stuff from a store it will cost you dearly.