[sandygreen]

I saw on a recent TV gardening programme they were  making raised beds.  When they put the compost in the gardener then got people to walk over it to compact down the soil.  Are you supposed to do this.  I didn't last year (first year with raised beds) and I must admit, nothing did exceptionally well in it but I think it was because it wasn't in a very good position.  I have moved it now and am about to refill. 

So - do I have to stomp around all over it before planting?

[Stratts]

I'm not sure mate I know I compact my pots really well when I put compost in so maybe the same principle applies?? 

[Trillium]

You do need to get the excess air out of the soil but having people walk over it defeats the entire purpose of a raised bed - a place where no one walks on it.

I just tamp mine down with the end of a space or any other wide flat object as I fill it in layers. Don't try to do it at the very end in one go. And don't get people walking on it.  Wetting it completely with water/rain will also accomplish this task before you start planting.

[sandygreen]

Thanks for this - in all fairness it was kids that were walking around so they are not as heavy us older ones but I think your way of just tamping down in layers is much better.

[Mrs Bee]

We just chucked the compost in our raised beds with out stomping on it and it seemed to work well for us.

[Trillium]

That works too but there's a fair bit of settling the soil must do and this can alter growing levels on some plants that are more fussy.