Preparing Raised Beds

[kibob]

Hi guys, ok,,, here goes my first (of many) questions:

I am planning to set up a couple of raised beds. The area I intend to use is currently lawn. I have sleepers for the edging and assume I need to remove the existing turf before filling my bed?, would this alone be sufficient or should I rotivate too?

I have access to unlimited well-rotted horse manure - do I mix this with the top soil or layer it? and what ratio would you suggest (I was thinking a third manure to 2 thirds soil, or am I way out here)?

I am a complete novice so any other advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation

[Dottie]

I would dig and clear any builders rubble etc that you often find under lawns.

If I had unlimited access to well-rotted manure, I'd dig out the bed and put a good layer of manure in. Then I'd lay the turf upside down, on top of the manure, and then a mix of manure and the soil that I'd just dug out.

This would then be a good grounding for a no-dig bed, as in no need to dig again in the future, and just top up each year with new manure and or compost.

Good luck

[Eyren]

I don't really have much to add to Dottie's advice - lawn grass usually isn't too persistent, so bunging it upside-down on a layer of manure than then covering it should see to it.

You can rotavate the soil once you've removed the turf, though if you're on a modernish housing estate the soil will probably be pretty rubbish (I know ours is!) and a small rotavator is going to struggle to make any impact. You'll get better results by just turning over the top 6-8 inches with a good spade, which will cost less than the hire of a rotavator and last you a lifetime. Not that you'll need it very often, with raised beds

[nilling]

It's truly amazing what you will find under the turf of modern houses, mostly building rubble but I also found part of a cast iron bath, it had cows on it before lol

[gojiberry]

I agree with dottie. The only thing that I would add is that you may end up with a few pest problems in the first year due to the grass namely in the form of leather jackets and wireworm. Leather jackets will eat the roots of almost anything and wireworm usually affects potatoes.

Ian