[Dotty]

We finished making our raised bed yesterday. It is approx 2mtr x 3mtr and is around 1mtr  deep. I need it this high as i am semi disabled and cannot bend. We have filled it with mounds of soil that were already in the garden. I know it is good soil as this property used to be a garden nursery business.
The problem is that all of the soil is bone dry and dusty. I have just spent 20mins with a hose on it but the water isnt soaking in too well and sits on the surface. I have dug some of it in with my trowel, but it will take forever to get the water deeper down!! I am so disappointed as i wanted to go buy some plants to sow this morning but I am not sure it is a good idea to plant them if the soil is like this.

Any help or advice??

[Fisherman]

Hi Dotty
Sounds like your soil might be short of a bit of organic matter especially if its been used for growing a lot in the past. If you spread some compost over the top and then soak it will gradually dampen your soil. Adding the compost will allow you to plant up straight away.

Hope that helps

[Dotty]

Thanks Fisherman.
I think i might have to dig out some of the soil then as my husband has filled it right to the top LOL...on second thoughts HE can dig it out!!

[paintedlady]

If I recall it has been exceptionally dry in Essex this year so the soil is bound to need a lot of water anyway.  Here in Nottingham where we've had some rain but nowhere enough (I'm not complaining though - the rain can wait now until I've harvested my bumper tomato crop first!), I can spend ages with the hose pipe and think I'm drenching the beds only to find if I poke the soil, it is only surface wet      If you are thinking of planting (rather than sowing seeds), then after digging a planting hole you could add some compost to it, then fill the entire planting hole up with water and leave it drain away before you put your plants in.

[Dotty]

Yes you are right PL. We have had very little rain for a couple of months now.
Thanks for the tip. I am off to buy some compost now

[kermit]

Can I suggest manure also. Or if it really has poor drainage then sharp sand.

[mickeyboy]

I also built 4 raised beds last year measuring pretty much the same. I must admit that for 3 0f my beds i ordered 15 tons of top quality top soil. However the fourth i filled with soil from the garden and had pretty much the same problem. You need to water very well and then add plenty of manure for the first year.
After you get a half decent soil (and removed some stones or rocks) you can then add sharp sand ect depending on what you wish to grow in the beds.

Worked for me now have lovely soil which was just basically dust last year.

Hope this helps.