I will be planting in raised garden beds early next year.
Can you tell me what sort of soil I should buy to fill these beds?
Hi @Gee,
We have an excellent step-by-step guide How to fill a raised garden bed by @Noelle that should assist.
If you plan on growing vegetables in the raised garden beds, there is also a step-by-step guide to growing vegetables on the Bunnings website, which includes information about preparing your soil and the importance of mulch.
I imagine most people simply use soil from elsewhere in their garden, but add compost and fertiliser. When we installed our Vegepod last year, we didn't need much soil so we simply used a few bags of potting mix, some cow manure and some perlite for extra aeration.
I've also attached the how to grow vegetables video below. I hope it's helpful. Other keen vegetable growers might also like to add their suggestions to this discussion.
Jason
Hi @GeeType of soil depends on what you plan to grow & the size of the beds. How easy the area is to access is also a consideration.
Also, as @Jason mentioned, whether you plan to buy-in soil or just use improved garden soil (doable but not what I would generally recommend for most raised beds but this depends on height etc).Measure the bed up to work out the volume you need, length x width x depth will give you cubic metres.So, for example, 1m x 2m x .3m = .6 of a cubic metre.Now... in a cubic metre there are 1,000L. This is important to know because potting mix & bagged soil mixes are sold in bags measured in litres.Personally if the volume was over about 250L I’d be using soil from a landscape supplier instead as it can get quite expensive but if access is difficult you may still need to buy bags.
You will find some good blends in 50L bags at Bunnings so that can make it more economical.
If you do order from a landscape supplier then you’ll need to express the order in cubic metres. So ½ a cubic metre for example.
The type of mix you use will depend on what you plan to grow, veggies, flowers, shrubs etc. but whatever you grow make sure the mix is suitable for use in a raised bed or large planter box.And don't ever, ever scrimp on the quality of soil or mix to go into raised beds or planters or pots.It's false economy to try & save some money by selecting a cheap mix.
And if anyone's looking for a raised planter bed project you might like my little video 🙂
Hi Adam, that information was very helpful.
I am planning to plant seasonal vegetables and companion flowers.
I was also planning on ordering soil from a landscaper, as you say it is more economical to do it that way. Is there a formula or special type of soil when ordering from a landscaper?
Also, thank you very much for explaining how to work out volumn....
Is it reasonalle to put broken rocks etc at the base of the flower bed, I heard that this was a good idea?
I am sure I will be in touch with you again.
Thank you for your help.
Gee
Thank you Jason for your information. It will come in very handy. I am planning on planting seasonal veg and companion flowers. I will be relying on your site once I begin my journey.
At the moment I am looking on information, and saving up to start late this year or early next year.
I know it is important to get the soil right, it appears in most responses. I will be ordering from a landscaper to keep costs down. So I will need to know what to order when ordering.....
I will look forward to our online chats.
Cheers, Gee
No problem @Gee. Glad it was helpful. Looking forward to seeing how your project progresses.
You have the option of ordering the soil from the Bunnings special orders desk at your local store.
hi gee,
i have built quite a few raised garden beds,i usually get a delivery of dirt from the local hardware shop,which is usually a mix of soil and pig manure,then i buy a few bags of mushroom compost,cow manure, and add dynamic lifter,and mix it altogether and fill the garden beds then once planted out i add mulch,
kel
Hi @Gee, no worries,always happy to help 🙂
If ordering bulk soil you need to tell them that it's for a raised garden bed, the blend is slightly different & will generally contains more sand to reduce shrinkage & improve drainage.Gravel or finely broken rock can be put in the bottom if drainage is a possible problem but under most circumstances it's not need.Sometimes material like that is used to bulk out the bed. Using waste rock is cheaper than filling the entire bed with soil as most veggies etc only need & use the first 20 to 30cm of soil depth.If you do put any sort of drainage or bulking material in as a bottom layer make sure that you then cover this with drainage fabric before adding the soil.
Where you have multiple sleepers high, offset the joins that when the natural bends oppose each other.
Thanks for joining the discussion and sharing your experience @Malcolm. It's great to have you as a new member of the Workshop community. It sounds as if you have lots of knowledge and experience that you can share with our members. I trust that other community members will also inspire and inform your projects too. Please feel free to post whenever you need a hand.
Welcome aboard,
Raised wicking bedRaised garden bed, seedlings
First up place some gravel, rocks, flattened old cardboard boxes, newspaper and pea straw in the bottom, this will keep weeds at bay and invite the worms to come and visit. You may also like to place a Composting worm farm in the corner of your garden. Then get some good top soil or potting mix, I used Organic Potting mix, sprinkle a slow release fertilizer pellet. Then decide what you are going to grow and go for it.
For your information zucchini, snow peas and cucumber may be grown in raised beds with the assistance of veggie trellis, ease of harvesting.
Enjoy, have fun. @Maursie
@Adam_W Hi Adam, very old post sorry but i came across it searching for the best soil to put in my newly built planter boxes. Very good video, but I noticed there was no black plastic or core flute around the sides of the box? Is this not needed?
Hi @kirky,
Good to see you joining in the discussion. Never apologise for reviving an older discussion - we're here to help.
Have you see the excellent guide How to fill a raised garden bed by @Noelle?
Thank you! But still didnt mention if i need to wrap the inside with bag plastic or core flute as it says on the Bunnings instructions of how to build the bed - any ides?
Hello @kirky
Placing the black plastic on the inside of a steel garden bed helps with regulating the temperature of the soil. Since the soil in a raised bed is elevated above the ground, it will gain or lose heat faster than soil in the ground. I recommend putting the plastic on as it provides a benefit to your garden bed. I suggest using the GRUNT 2m x 5m Black 100um Builder's Film Handy Roll. If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Please keep us updated, any photos of your garden bed up and running would be much appreciated.
Eric
Thanks @EricL, this is where we are at so far! Will post again when completed 🙂
Looks fantastic! Do you build these for others by any chance?? More than a bit beyond my skill set 🤣
Hello @JAPCAP
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your question about the raised garden bed.
Let me tag @Gee so that they are made aware of your kind comments and question. You can always go for a Bedford 120 x 120 x 30cm ACQ Treated Pine Raised Garden Bed. This is a pre-cut ready to assemble raised garden bed. There is also the Saxon Raised Garden Bed 120X90X30cm Black which is quick and easy to assemble. Whichever you decide to go with, please make sure to post and share your project. Any updates you can provide would be much appreciated.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Hi @JAPCAP,
Let me extend my own personal welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. We're so pleased to have you join us.
I believe you were responding to @Adam_W's post in this discussion and referring to his excellent raised garden bed with seat. Adam has actually shared a comprehensive step-by-step guide to building your own. We would be more than happy to assist you with completing this project. Alternatively, you could engage the services of a tradesperson to build it for you via a website such as Hipages or Airtasker. Or you might like to consider a simpler project. Adam's How to build a simple raised garden bed would be a great alternative.
Let us know how we can assist with next steps for making your raised garden bed project a reality. We're here to help.
Hi @kirky There are a few differing schools of thought on the use of wall liners. Personally, I will generally only line a bed (or retaining wall) with a drainage or geotextile fabric just to prevent soil from escaping through the gaps. Sleepers can expand & contract with dry and wet weather and also shrink a little as they age so they may be nice & tight when you build the bed but in 12-months time there can be gaps.A lot of folks use raised planters for growing food plants & I know they avoid any form of plastic liners in-case there is the possibility of anything leaching from the plastics into the soil & then being taken up by the plants.Nice planter, well done! Can I make one suggestion... those uprights in the middle... put a cross brace from side-to-side otherwise the walls will likley bow out.If you go here & scroll through to step 11 you'll see what I mean.
I will be planting in raised garden beds early next year.
