[doug hutch]

  hiya all
             im putting in a raised  bed in my garden its going to be approx 2m x8m x450 deep
             the amount of topsoil required is about 7 tonnes is it ok to get soil from different
             sources ie friends builders ect and if so would i need to treat it with anything
             [i would like start growing this year if poss]

[sunshineband]

You can get soil from all sorts of sources but you need to be careful that you are not importing soil borne probelems like clubroot or white rot, and of course that it is actually top soil and not subsoil 

[Hey Jude]

Hi Doug, I ordered soil after doing an internet search as we needed quite a lot like you. It wasn't particularly cheap and not as luscious as I'd hoped!! but, there was barely a weed seed in it and I added some rotted muck - the crops did very well. I wouldn't have been able to find enough soil to fill my beds that's why I chose to buy it in - hope this helps, Hey Jude. 

[doug hutch]

   whats the difference between topsoil and subsoil

[Yorkie]

Topsoil is the bit you grow in.  It may be anything from a few inches to a couple of feet or more deep.

Subsoil is the layer underneath the topsoil.  It is often a yellow clayey colour, or at least of a different consistency etc from topsoil.  It has no nutrients and plants do not grow in it.

Do not mix the two up!

[Jamie Butterworth]

I am in the samesituation and need to fill my raised beds, how much should I expect to pay for topsoil?

[doug hutch]

I am in the samesituation and need to fill my raised beds, how much should I expect to pay for topsoil?

hiya
                    i rang around people i know are in building or groundworks but finaly got
                    mine ordered off a farm i used to shoot vermin on he sold it to me for £8
                    per ton inc delivery he assured me its good stuff                                         

[Jamie Butterworth]

£8  , i was expecting to pay at least ten times that much, thats realy made my day, so I just need to find my local farm etc to get lowest price.    Smashing

[Jamie Butterworth]

Just been looking around and the cheapest stuff I can find is £100 per ton 

[viettaclark]

Try Wickes. They use Rolawn products. I paid £90 with free delivery but the soil was a fantastic loam.

[Jamie Butterworth]

Tar

[Rangerkris]

I got some soil from a job that was being done through work we had some fantasic looking fungi in the garden the following year  :blink: but now its decked over and they dont come up.

[Jamie Butterworth]

Wickes is £100 with p&p, not cheap at all 

[Yabba]

but now its decked over and they dont come up.

Most people would have just weeded and stuff :|

¥

[Lardman]

Wickes is £100 with p&p, not cheap at all 

Forget the internet for that sort of thing .. most are just sub companies for the main distributors anyway.

Last year good quality (but not top of the range) screened soil was £34 / tonne delivered in drop sacks from the local landscaping company. Pick the phone up and give people a call - its the only way.