Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: gidster on May 01, 2009, 19:27

Title: top soil for raised beds
Post by: gidster on May 01, 2009, 19:27
hi im going to make some raised beds fore the garden,ive got all the wood i need and the space its just where do i get the soil?

i could maybe swipe some from the allotment but id need alot and it would be hard work,or some from work but it has alot of bits and bobs in(stones,wood,roots)or maybe buy some in.what does everyone else do and what sort of quality should i be looking for?

thanks.
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: mumofstig on May 01, 2009, 19:47
There's been a lot of discussion about raised beds lately.........is this any help?
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=35682.0 (http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=35682.0)
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: gidster on May 01, 2009, 20:01
thanks thats some good info,so am i right in saying any topsoil would be good enough,the stuff i can get for free  could be cleaned i suppose,by that i mean me taking all the rubbish out, would it still be good enough. they are using it on the m1 where im working for the verges.
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: mumofstig on May 01, 2009, 20:27
You could always put it through a course sieve/ riddle if you think it's too stoney/rubishy.
I think i'd be inclined just to take out the big stones and bits of rubbish you find as you're filling the beds. Not many people have perfect soil, you just improve it as you go along.
and lots of flowers grow on the verges so the soil can't be that bad :lol:
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: gidster on May 02, 2009, 11:05
yeah think i minght do that,as ive been quoted £85 for a ton of top soil :ohmy:

so if i use this soil it wont harm my veg as long as i had some goodness?
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: wysiwyg on May 02, 2009, 11:22
have a look at your local freecycle site, they have some good stuff on there sometimes,  just waiting to be picked up.  someone by us was giving it away already bagged the other week, - you have to be quick though! as anything worth having goes really quick
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: Robin Redbreast on May 02, 2009, 13:08
yeah think i minght do that,as ive been quoted £85 for a ton of top soil :ohmy:

so if i use this soil it wont harm my veg as long as i had some goodness?


wow!!! £85 that wants to be touched with gold! lol. there i s a place near us that is £35 pound a ton for the best stuff and £10 a ton for subsoil thats not too bad.  thats expensive shop around a bit if i were you!!! :blink:
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: gidster on May 02, 2009, 18:49
hi ,have they got an adress of web site?
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: Robin Redbreast on May 02, 2009, 19:28
hi ,have they got an adress of web site?


bare with me i will get it for you coz i want some myself so will find this post and let ya know! :D
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: wysiwyg on May 03, 2009, 15:43
Have you got the ebay bit on the bottom of your screen the same as me?  didnt even think to look there,  nothing down my way, but might be worth a look!
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: gidster on May 05, 2009, 19:29
any news on the top soil mate?
Title: Re: top soil for raised beds
Post by: Robin Redbreast on May 05, 2009, 23:01
any news on the top soil mate?
yeah have just had 10 ton delivered today been screened once some of it twice!
10 pound aton no delivery charge although i think there would deffo be a charge for your distance but ya never know

PM me for the person's contact details.

hope he can help if not i know of another called hillcrest aggregates in fitzwilliam west yorks that might help but its a tenner a ton for sub soil no screen. i have to say the stuff we got is really good for the money am well happy but extremely tired, me and r lass humped the full 10 tonnes with spade and wheelbarrow in six hours! i could cry i ache that much!!!! :D :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:


[Edited by Yorkie1 to remove public contact details of an individual and replace with PM]