Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: doug hutch on January 23, 2010, 21:33

Title: soil
Post by: doug hutch on January 23, 2010, 21:33

  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]
Title: Re: soil
Post by: sunshineband on January 23, 2010, 22:57
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  :ohmy:
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Hey Jude on January 24, 2010, 22:10
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. 
Title: Re: soil
Post by: doug hutch on January 25, 2010, 20:07
   whats the difference between topsoil and subsoil
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Yorkie on January 25, 2010, 20:10
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!
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on January 26, 2010, 10:54
I am in the samesituation and need to fill my raised beds, how much should I expect to pay for topsoil?
Title: Re: soil
Post by: doug hutch on January 26, 2010, 19:48
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                                         
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on January 26, 2010, 23:09
£8  :ohmy:, 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.  :D  :D :D :D :D Smashing
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on February 01, 2010, 18:59
Just been looking around and the cheapest stuff I can find is £100 per ton  :mad:
Title: Re: soil
Post by: viettaclark on February 01, 2010, 20:45
Try Wickes. They use Rolawn products. I paid £90 with free delivery but the soil was a fantastic loam.
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on February 01, 2010, 22:55
Tar :D
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Rangerkris on February 05, 2010, 15:48
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.
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on February 05, 2010, 16:54
Wickes is £100 with p&p, not cheap at all  :(
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Yabba on February 05, 2010, 17:48
but now its decked over and they dont come up.

Most people would have just weeded and stuff :|

¥
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Lardman on February 05, 2010, 18:23
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.
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on February 06, 2010, 11:14
Thanks, just found numerous supliers n my area thanks to yellow pages  :D, I have emailed some of them for a quote but am going to wait until monday to phone the others.
Title: Re: soil
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on February 08, 2010, 19:04
Thanks, been doing a little bit of price compaing, make each company fight to get lowest price for me  :lol:, anyway, got it down to £39 delivered  :D result!  :D