If your soil is bad and full of clay, rocks, or sand, raised bed gardening is the best way to go. With raised beds, you control the quality of your soil, leading to healthier plants and a better harvest. Only problem is that good soil for those raised beds can be pricey. But as a gardener, you know that healthy soil is the foundation of everything, so you don’t want to skimp, right?
Fortunately, there’s good news for both the conscientious gardener and the budget-strapped homeowner. When your raised beds are 18” to 24” deep, you can layer the materials inside them and save the top 12” for your more expensive, better soil. Here’s how. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background__as_pattern=”without_pattern” css=”. vc_custom_1543614188855{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner].
Raised garden beds are a great way to grow vegetables herbs, fruits and flowers. The contained space allows you full control over the soil quality and drainage – factors critical to plant health and productivity.
When filling a new raised bed, it is important to layer materials properly to create an optimal environment for plant roots. The ideal soil profile in a raised bed has 4 layers
Layer 1: Coarse Material for Drainage
The bottom layer of a raised bed should consist of coarse materials like gravel, small stones, broken bricks, etc. This layer should be 2-4 inches thick.
The coarse material serves two purposes
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It improves drainage and prevents waterlogging.
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It levels the base and provides stability to the bed frame.
Good drainage is critical as excess moisture can cause root rot. The gravely layer allows excess water to quickly percolate downwards.
Layer 2: Basic Garden Soil
On top of the coarse layer, add a 4-6 inch layer of basic garden soil. This provides the bulk and body to the soil profile.
The ideal soil for layer 2 is loam – the perfect balance of sand, silt and clay. Loam has great water retention yet drains well. It also contains some organic matter.
If you don’t have loam available, use whatever soil type is prevalent in your garden. Add compost to sandy soils or organic material to clay soils to improve texture.
Layer 3: Compost or Manure
Next comes a 2-4 inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure. This organic matter boosts nutrient levels and improves soil structure.
Compost provides a slow-release fertilizer to plants. It also encourages beneficial microbial activity in the soil.
Well-rotted manure offers similar benefits. It should smell earthy, not strong or ammonia-like.
Layer 4: High-Quality Topsoil
The topmost layer should be 4-6 inches of high-quality topsoil. This is where the plant roots will grow and take up water and nutrients.
Purchase topsoil from a garden center or landscape supplier. Avoid using poor subsoil that may contain harmful contaminants.
Ideally, blend the topsoil with 20-30% compost or manure. This gives plants an immediate fertility boost.
Key Tips for Layering Raised Beds
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Don’t use landscape fabric or plastic sheeting. It interferes with drainage and soil health.
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Build beds no more than 12 inches tall. Anything deeper is wasted space for most vegetable roots.
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Locate beds in full sun (at least 6 hours daily) for best plant growth. Part shade can work for greens.
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Refresh the compost and topsoil layers annually. This prevents nutrient depletion over time.
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Allow new beds to settle for 2-3 weeks before planting. Fertilize and amend as needed.
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Group plants with similar needs together. For example, tomatoes with basil and peppers with onions.
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Include fun ornamentals like nasturtiums and marigolds. They attract pollinators and deter pests.
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Don’t walk on wet soil. Use boards to kneel on beds and avoid compacting the soil.
Properly layering materials in a raised bed results in fertile, well-drained soil ideal for growing robust and bountiful edible crops. Follow these guidelines when installing new beds this season. Let your plants thrive in a perfectly designed soil profile.
Layering Soil in a Raised Garden Bed
In this video, Birjette, a local organic seed grower from San Diego Seed Company discusses a method of layering soil in a raised garden bed known as Hugelkultur. Watch the full Layering Soil in a Raised Garden Bed video on the Kellogg Garden Youtube Channel.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background__as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t5TNZ8NqeM&t=2s[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background__as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
All of your layering materials need to be organic and toxin/petroleum free. The base layers will break down over time, but when you dig and turn the soil, remember how deep your layers are so you don’t mess up your course.
1. Wood: Lay a thin layer of small twigs, branches, or bark at the bottom of your raised bed. You can also add other materials like newspaper and manure at this first step.
2. Soil that costs less: Mix inexpensive soil with native soil, old potting soil, or soil that is inexpensive and loam. Do not add any soil that has weeds, mold, or pests in it, or any other type of soil that is wrong. In this layer, you can also add in some leaf mold, compost from your pile, and grass clippings.
3. Good soil: Most plants that grow in raised beds need 6 to 12 inches of good soil, so that’s how deep I aim to go when I add the “good stuff.” “Fill your bed up to an inch below the top edge. I fill mine all the way to the top because soil tends to settle down after being watered in.”
Note: You can “top” an existing bed with better organic raised bed soil if it already has old soil in it. There is a good chance that your old soil has settled a few inches and you need both better quality soil and more depth. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”. vc_custom_1585242059265{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;border-left-color: #666b3a !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #666b3a !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #666b3a !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #666b3a !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}” el_class=”locally-blog”][vc_column css=”. vc_custom_1584544935851{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ url=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww. kellogggarden. com%2Fproducts%2Fkellogg%2Fkellogg-garden-organics-natural-raised-bed-potting-mix%2F|||”][vc_single_ =”20924″ img_size=”full” css=”. vc_custom_1585671586150{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”locallyboximgnew”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_column_text el_class=”lcly-brand-name-new” css=”. vc_custom_1584544871848{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Kellogg Garden Organics[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”lcly-product-name-new” css=”. vc_custom_1585671604628{margin-bottom: 13px !important;}”]All Natural Raised Bed & Potting Mix[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Learn More” style=”custom” custom_background=”#561e2b” custom_text=”#ffffff” shape=”square” size=”lg” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww. kellogggarden. com%2Fproducts%2Fkellogg%2Fkellogg-garden-organics-natural-raised-bed-potting-mix%2F|||” css=”. vc_custom_1585671560248{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”learnmorelocallyboxnew”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”locallyboxnewright” width=”2/4″ css=”. vc_custom_1584548628684{padding-top: 0px !important;background-color: #666b3a !important;}”][vc_raw_html css=”. vc_custom_1585695787526{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]JTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJ3aWRnZXRsb2NhbGx5Ym94JTIwbG9jYWxseS1wZHAlMjIlM0UlMEElM0NkaXYlMjBpZCUzRCUyMmxjbHktYnV0dG9uLTAlMjIlM0UlM0NhJTIwaWQlM0QlMjJsY2x5LWxpbmstMCUyMiUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmJyYW5kcy5sb2NhbGx5LmNvbSUyMiUyMHRhcmdldCUzRCUyMl9ibGFuayUyMiUyMHJlbCUzRCUyMm5vb3BlbmVyJTIyJTNFJTBBUHJvZHVjdCUyMExvY2F0b3IlMjBieSUyMExvY2FsbHklMEElM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNFJTBBJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJsY2x5LXNjcmlwdC0wJTIyJTIwYXN5bmMlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBpZCUzRCUyMmxjbHktY29uZmlnLTAlMjIlM0UlMEElMjAlMjB2YXIlMjBsY2x5X2NvbmZpZ18wJTIwJTNEJTIwJTdCJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIyY29tcGFueV9uYW1lJTIyJTNBJTIwJTIyS2VsbG9nZyUyMEdhcmRlbiUyME9yZ2FuaWNzJTIyJTJDJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIyYnV0dG9uX3RleHQlMjIlM0ElMjAlMjJGaW5kJTIwaXQlMjBMb2NhbGx5JTIyJTJDJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIyYnV0dG9uX2lkJTIyJTNBJTIwJTIySFRNTCUyMiUyQyUwQSUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMmNvbXBhbnlfaWQlMjIlM0ElMjAlMjIxMTE0MTUlMjIlMkMlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjAlMjJjc3MlMjIlM0ElMjAlMjI0JTIyJTJDJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIyYWx3YXlzX2hpZGVfYnV0dG9uJTIyJTNBJTIwJTIyMSUyMiUyQyUwQSUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMnNob3dfcmVsYXRlZF9zdHlsZXMlMjIlM0ElMjAlMjIxJTIyJTJDJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIybl9yZWxhdGVkX3N0eWxlcyUyMiUzQSUyMCUyMjMlMjIlMkMlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjAlMjJzaG93X2xvY2F0aW9uX3N3aXRjaGVyJTIyJTNBJTIwJTIyMSUyMiUyQyUwQSUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMnNob3dfbG9jYXRpb25fcHJvbXB0JTIyJTNBJTIwJTIyMSUyMiUyQyUwQSUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMmxhbmclMjIlM0ElMjAlMjJlbi11cyUyMiUyQyUwQSUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMCUyMnNob3dfZGVhbGVycyUyMiUzQSUyMCUyMjElMjIlMkMlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjAlMjJuX2RlYWxlcnMlMjIlM0ElMjAlMjIyJTIyJTJDJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIyY2F0ZWdvcnklMjIlM0ElMjAlMjJLR04lMjIlMkMlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjAlMjJzaG93X2FkZHJlc3MlMjIlM0ElMjAlMjIxJTIyJTJDJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIybGlua19vcGVuc19tb2RhbCUyMiUzQSUyMCUyMjElMjIlMEElMjAlMjAlN0QlM0IlMEElMjAlMjB2YXIlMjBsY2x5X3F1ZXJ5XzAlMjAlM0QlMjBPYmplY3Qua2V5cyUyOGxjbHlfY29uZmlnXzAlMjklMEElMjAlMjAucmVkdWNlJTI4ZnVuY3Rpb24lMjhhJTJDayUyOSU3QmEucHVzaCUyOGVuY29kZVVSSUNvbXBvbmVudCUyOGslMjklMjAlMkIlMjAlMjclM0QlMjclMjAlMEElMjAlMjAlMkIlMjBlbmNvZGVVUklDb21wb25lbnQlMjhsY2x5X2NvbmZpZ18wJTVCayU1RCUyOSUyOSUzQnJldHVybiUyMGElN0QlMkMlNUIlNUQlMjkuam9pbiUyOCUyNyUyNiUyNyUyOSUzQiUwQSUyMCUyMHZhciUyMGxjbHlfZW5kcG9pbnRfMCUyMCUzRCUyMCUyN2h0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGa2VsbG9nZ2dhcmRlbi5sb2NhbGx5LmNvbSUyRnN0b3JlcyUyRm1hcC5qcyUzRiUyNyUyMCUyQiUyMGxjbHlfcXVlcnlfMCUzQiUwQSUyMCUyMGRvY3VtZW50LmdldEVsZW1lbnRCeUlkJTI4JTI3bGNseS1zY3JpcHQtMCUyNyUyOS5zcmMlMjAlM0QlMjBsY2x5X2VuZHBvaW50XzAlM0IlMEElM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEE=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background__as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]**Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT. 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• Use 100% high-quality soil in your smaller or shallower beds. Fill your 4×4 or less than 12″ deep bed with the best soil you can find. • Buy bulk at a landscape supply yard, which can save you more than 50% of your budget. • If you decide to buy a lot, make plans to pick it up yourself if you have a truck. You’ll save on delivery, which can be $100 – $150. Also, some landscape supply stores require you to buy a certain number of yards, even if you only need one. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text].
Layering Soil in a Raised Garden Bed
FAQ
What is the best base layer for a raised garden bed?
What is the best filling for a raised bed?
What do you put in the bottom of a deep raised garden bed?
How do you layer soil in a raised bed?
Using a method called ‘hugelkultur’, you can layer your raised bed with branches, plant waste, and compost – keeping your soil stable and nutritious and roots well-fed! What exactly is soil layering in a raised bed?
Should you layer soil & organic material in a raised garden bed?
Layering soil and organic material in a raised garden bed can help save you money while helping to preserve the best-quality medium towards the top. Using a method called ‘hugelkultur’, you can layer your raised bed with branches, plant waste, and compost – keeping your soil stable and nutritious and roots well-fed!
How do you make a raised bed garden?
Raised bed gardening makes this really simple to do; just add a few more garden beds and whip up some compost. If you’re short on fresh soil, try a bit of Hugelkultur. Take your chainsaw out to an old tree you want to clear, then cut it into blocks that fit into your garden beds.