Raised Garden Bed Soil (forum)

Gus starts with ...
Just wondering what you guys suggest for a good healthy mix for a raised garden bed. I have started off with layers of Lucerne, cow poo, and compost. I have had great results, but constantly have to refill the boxes as the mix just evaporates. I was considering mixing in a little sand and clay just to add a little structure but don't want to undo what has been working for me. Anyone else had similair experiences?

Time: 18th September 2011 11:23am

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Brendan says...
Can you buy garden soil in bulk Gus? That's what we do up here.
That mix you have reminds me of Ester Deans 'No-Dig-Garden' from years ago. google it.

Time: 19th September 2011 8:07am

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ringelstrumpf says...
I use woody material too. I cut it down a bit and then use grass and I shovel the dirt on the top. You will get enough branches from your neighbours. You should use different kind of stuff that means calling a lawn mowing company to dump their clippings in your yard is a good idea.

Time: 19th September 2011 6:03pm

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Gippshome says...
Hi Gus,

This is a no-dig method of gardening, and since most of the straw is really just air you will find that it reduces in size substantially and quite quickly.

If you want to keep total control over what is in the soil, then you should keep to just this combination. Adding other soil can introduce weeds and have an impact on drainage among other things.

If you're not particularly fussed then adding soil won't destroy the bed. You'd probably still be better off doing that as opposed to mixing a little compost into raw dirt.

Just remember either way you'll need to keep adding nutrients regardless. Take Ringelstrumpf's advice of grabbing free composting material from neighbours to bulk it up a bit!

Time: 19th September 2011 8:46pm

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Gus says...
That is all good advice guys,

I hadn't really considered that most of the straw is just air but that makes a lot of sense. I was a little worried at the rate it was disappearing, but I guess it is just squeezing out the air pockets. I haven't yet added any soil but get a fair few weeds growing in there anyway.
Think I will give the soil a miss and carry on with what I am doing until I have a bubbless bed

Thanks again.

Time: 19th September 2011 11:01pm

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amanda says...
Hey Gus - coco peat is great stuff to add as it takes a lot longer to 'vanish' :) It's also weed free.

Time: 20th September 2011 9:22am

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ringelstrumpf says...
I don't really like the no dig method. As it relies heavily on bought stuff. At least in the burbs were straw and other mulches are rare.

Time: 20th September 2011 6:52pm

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gus says...
When you live in a sand pit in surburban perth and want to grow some veg, you will always have to buy stuff unfortuneately. I think you also pay a premium at local suppliers

Time: 21st September 2011 3:15pm

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Brad says...
if you don't have a large composting setup already (or can't set one up quick), I recomment you look at http://www.greenlifesoil.com.au/soils.htm
your approach is effectively composting your growing medium which is why it disappears.

whatever soil you use, always mulch and compost regularly to maintain / improve it.

theres a few community gardens around that might be useful for you to compare?
http://www.communitygardenswa.org.au/media/articles/Directoy-of-WA-Community-Gardens/Directory-of-WA-Community-Gardens.pdf

Time: 21st September 2011 4:19pm

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Gus says...
That is a good website Brad,
I will have to get out to Midvale.
It migh be worth filling up the boxes so that in future I am topping them up rather than refilling the whole lot.

Time: 22nd September 2011 10:15am

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Julie says...
If Paul and Linda are running Greenlife, they are good people. It has changed its name, so not sure if it is still them.

Time: 22nd September 2011 6:59pm

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Original Post was last edited: 27th September 2011 8:14pm

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Brad says...
It's still them

Time: 23rd September 2011 12:45am

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MiLK_MaN says...
I started some no dig garden beds last year, and the contents halved by winter time.

I have no problems adding more content, some worm castings, pelleted chicken manure, compost from my compost tumbler and then top up with bags of soil.

Essentially the worms are converting the organic matter into castings for you beneath the soil. If you start adding contents that the worms can't devour, then you might not get the same good results that you talked about from last year.

I'd just try and find some cheap materials that you can compost. I found a lady in melbourne that was giving away free rabbit manure with wood shavings. Most of this ended up in my worm farms.


Time: 23rd September 2011 12:21pm

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Original Post was last edited: 23rd September 2011 8:37pm

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au0rey says...
rabbit poo in worm farms? Wont the farm stink?

Time: 23rd September 2011 2:12pm

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snottiegobble says...
If you can buy good quality potting mix in bulk ( trailer load) its ideal for raised garden beds as a base then you can mix in your manures, composts, bentonite etc. For organic growers just make sure there is NO osmocote additive in the mix before you buy it!

Time: 23rd September 2011 7:28pm

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MiLK_MaN says...
I compost the rabbit poo first, never put it straight into the worm farm.

I usually cut my front lawn and mix with the rabbit poo, and if I have some bokashi ready to go in the house it goes in there too.

3 weeks later, the contents have cooled down and ready to go into the worm farms. The wood shavings are soaked with urine, so I knew I needed to compost it first.


Time: 23rd September 2011 8:37pm

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Gus says...
Thanks a lot for the tip Brad.
I went to Green life soil on the weekend and they were great. I got some really nice mix and would recommend them to anyone.
Cheers

Time: 27th September 2011 12:01am

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Brad says...
great gus. keep the mulch on it and it should do really well for you

Time: 27th September 2011 11:09pm

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