How much Soil?

[Little Dig]

I am currently building four raised beds, 6ft x 3 ft approx, and six inces deep, is there a formula that will allow me to calculate how much topsoil to order to fill these beds?

[Green Great]

The best way to do this is to try and guess it doesnt make any difference if you go on the large amount as you always find a use for the extra soil. So i say roughly estimate and then what ever is left you will soon be needing.

[Nicos]

I think you can calculate that 1 m cube is one ton (or tonne???) maybe you can calculate the depth you require from that???

[poultrychat]

Hi Little Dig, here's a calculator that should help you - if you enter your post code then you will get an option to calculate how much you need in feet or metres

http://www.dandys.org/prod1.asp?CID=71&PID=637

[Emma]

I too have raised beds and didn't put topsoil in it. I found that the soil in the bed was naturally slightly higher than the path anyway as it wasn't compacted. Also as you add manure the level raises anyway, a bed that I put in at home a while ago is nearly to the top now and that is just from inriching the soil with manure. My concern was that if I fill it up now that in a couple of years I'd have to be taking soil out. Although if the soil is poor, i.e heavy clay or very sandy then there would obviously be great benefit from adding topsoil. If you do put some in my advice would be to leave a gap at the top. I've read several books that show pictures of the soil at the same level as the top of the bed and I could just see them afterwards trying to dig without loosing their precious topsoil on the path!

Good luck with the bed's I've found them great to work with.

[andrewo]

With raised beds, don't overload them until they're brimming because you will be adding more compost and muck each year and need the space.

[nick the grief]

this is a useful site for calculations etc

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/volumes.htm

[sewer rat]

Hi Little Dig
I built 4 raised beds this year. The sides are 9" high (or should that be the beds are 9" deep ?) and have filled them to a depth of about six inches, so have room at the top so to speak !