[casper]

Hi, I have made two planters 10 x4 ft and 5 decking planks high, I have dogs i want to keep them off, i didn't think about the cost to fill them in advance could I use anything like straw from the chickens, unfinished compost and manure to fill the bottom. Thanks

[Alank]

Yes basically fill the bottom layer with the hens straw anything really then a layer of manure then a layer of the old compost forked through the manure then finish with a good top soil compost mix.

[casper]

Thank you

[Goosegirl]

You could always add some gravel or similar in the bottom to help with drainage and they won't need as much filling.

[casper]

Would it be okay to use fresh manure at the bottom of the large planters, thanks

[casper]

I have  10 x 4 ft planters, they are 5 decking planks high,if i use manure as a filler could I use Fresh manure, they are huge, I might grow flowers this year in them and do veg next year. They will cost me a bomb to fill and my neighbour has horses

[Alank]

Yes use whatever you can get your hands on for the bottom layer manure  grass cuttings leaves etc. Your beds are five decking boards high and will take some filling so basically anything that you can get for free even fresh manure etc will keep the cost down.

[New shoot]

You could look at doing something like hugelkulture.  I found one thread on here but someone else asked about filling the base of raised beds with cut branches recently, I just can’t find that one 

I have seen it done in raised beds before and it seemed to work well.  You just keep the top fairly level, rather than dome it up.    The soil level did fall over time, but it took a couple of seasons and was rectified by top dressing the bed between crops.

https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=133497.msg1541656#msg1541656

[New shoot]

Would it be okay to use fresh manure at the bottom of the large planters, thanks

You will be making a giant hot bed, which is fine for veg growing.

More info here :

https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/faqs/hot-beds-early-sowing-vegetables

I’ve merged your 2 threads together as they are both about filling your new raised planters