The Top 5 Soil Types for Raised Garden Beds
Raised garden beds can be the perfect way to add more growing space to your home, especially if you don’t have much outdoor space.
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These beds are also a great option if you struggle with keeping soil moist enough or have heavy clay soil that isn’t suitable for planting directly into the ground.
So why not take the risk of failure away by planting directly into raised garden bed planters this will mitigate the threat of contamination,crop failure,pests, soil degredation amongst others.
There are many factors that need to be considered when choosing the right soil to use when planting in raised garden bed
What Is the Best Soil for Raised Garden Beds?
If you want to grow your best garden ever, you need the perfect soil. Ideally, you would want a soil that is rich in organic matter, evenly moist and has the perfect pH level for your plants.
But what if you don’t have any soil at all? You would need to buy some, and this can get very expensive if you want to grow a lot of plants.
One option for raised garden beds is loam. Loam is a mixture of sand, silt and organic matter that has been naturally combined over time. It has the perfect pH level and a rich, nutrient-filled composition that will keep your plants healthy and strong.
Organic Matter Soil
Organic matter soil is made up of decaying plant material, which has decomposed down into a very rich, loamy soil. You can purchase bagged, aged organic matter soil, or you can make your own by composting your vegetable waste.
While organic matter soil is incredibly rich and nutritious for your plants, it is also very heavy. This means that you would need to use something light as your material for holding up your raised beds, such as wooden pallets or cinder blocks.
Sand and Silica Mined Soil
Sand and silica mined soil are lighter soils that are great for raised garden beds because they are very loose and easy to work with. They are usually very inexpensive and can be bought in bulk at most garden supply stores.
Silica mined soil is specifically designed to be used in raised garden beds and is a great choice for beginners who are working with a smaller budget.
The perfect type of soil that is easy to work with and has a neutral pH level, which means it needs little to no fertilizer.
Composted Gardening Co. Mix
If you have a lot of composted vegetable waste, why not use it to create your own soil? You can make your own composted gardening co. mix by combining equal parts soil, compost and sand.
You could also add in other materials, such as peat moss, peat, coir or vermiculite for added nutrients. Ig you are going down the route of mixing your own soil, make sure you use a loamy soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. You can test the pH level with a home testing kit or by using a professional lab.
Clay Soil
Clay soil is notorious for being very hard to work with because it is so dense and can be difficult to get moist enough. However, clay soil is great for the roots of your plants because it is very nutrient-rich and holds moisture very well.
If you have clay soil, you should consider building your raised beds out of organic matter soil so they are more loamy and loose. This will make the soil easier to work with and will help you avoid the terrible drainage issues that come with clay soil.
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To conclude
There is no one fits all when it comes to growing in raised garden beds and it very much depends on what it is you are looking yo plant and grow.You may grow shallow or deep.You max grow single crop or mix .
You can though give yourself the best possible stsrt by using the correct soil to fill your chosen garden bed planter It will always be trial and error to start with and eventually you will be able to gauge what soil will suit your growing needs the most.