Compost suggestions?

[hamsterqueen]

Hello, it’s been such a long time since I posted anything (years!) Haven’t been able to do much in the garden as back and legs have been dodgy but we are just adding more (higher) raised beds and hopefully I can get back out there again.

Anyway, any suggestions for good-priced reliable compost for topping up raised beds? Any to avoid?

[Jungle Jane]

Top soil would be good in a raised bed,most compost bags contain too much wood & other stuff,dries out quicker than soil. How deep are the raised beds,it can be expensive,you could put a layer of branches & grass cuttings etc at the base?

[Nicos]

If you are buying in top soil…make sure beforehand that it is actually top soil and not the layer beneath. I’ve heard that you really do need to check that out .

Have a look at this…and other similar links….
https://www.almanac.com/what-hugelku...ate-raised-bed

Thats what we are doing this year in some new beds we’ve created. As JJ says, it would reduce the amount of top soil you’d need to buy and within four years would be composting itself and be retaining lots of moisture as well as creating a very balanced ecosystem below soil level which can only benefit your plants

[ameno]

If you are buying in top soil…make sure beforehand that it is actually top soil and not the layer beneath. I’ve heard that you really do need to check that out .

Here in the UK, at least, the biggest problem with buying bagged topsoil isn't unwittingly buying subsoil but the bags not even really containing soil at all.
Most bagged "topsoil" here is actually just fine sand mixed with compost.

[hamsterqueen]

Mainly want it for topping up the original beds which are now twice as high. They’ve been covered in cardboard all einter and it’s niw nicely rotted down. I originally used a mix of topsoil and compost with “soil improver” from the council . Unfortunately, they no longer sell it.

Interesting article on the Hüggelkultur. My brother in law has made some. Might be worth an experiment.

[Jungle Jane]

Here in the UK, at least, the biggest problem with buying bagged topsoil isn't unwittingly buying subsoil but the bags not even really containing soil at all.
Most bagged "topsoil" here is actually just fine sand mixed with compost.

Topsoil is soil here,I don’t know how you can make that accusation.

[ameno]

Topsoil is soil here,I don’t know how you can make that accusation.

Because it's true. Consumer organisations have found as such, and my experience can attest to it, too.
It's only bagged topsoil (the stuff you get delivered in bulk is usually proper topsoil), and obviously even then it's not all brands, but many are indeed just fine sand mixed with compost.
It's classified as "manufactured topsoil", and it's perfectly legal for companies to sell it as topsoil, despite it being inferior to real topsoil. The reason they do this is because there is a shortage of actual topsoil, largely due to less of it being cut than there used to be.

[Jungle Jane]

Check reviews before you buy,there’s good quality top soil out there. The bags I bought were very good but that was a few years ago just bags from the garden centre. I imagine some places selling poor quality soil but not most places like you think… all you need to do is look at the reviews…

[Nicos]

I only bought topsoil in dumpy bags when I lived in the UK.
I wonder if there are different types for different purposes? I’m thinking is it better to have a sandier topsoil for below newly laid turf/ sowing grass seeds compared to what you’d need in raised beds?
I suppose dumpy bags would tend to be locally sourced?
I did look at some reviews and they do seem to vary….
https://www.bestproductsreviews.co.uk/best-topsoil?

[rary]

I would suggest contacting a tree surgeon or a company that cuts down trees, then shreds the wood, a builder bag of shredded wood, mixed with softer organic material, grass cutting and the likes, will make good soil in a couple of years, possibly less, if you stay near the coast and can collect seaweed, I would move the soil that you have at present, by about 1ft. deep from one half of the bed, replace with seaweed any compostable material and washed course sand all mixed together, then replace the soil, if you find it to much to do the full bed do half the bed this year, then the other half next year, with the depth of soil replaced you can still get a harvest this year

[goosander]

As a retired landscaper i would say that good/proper top soil is very rare. Most soil round new housing in this area is just clay unless you can get it from near the coast which is usually sandy.
Bob.