Raised Beds Help Please

Hello,

I am building some raised beds in my garden to grow vegetables. My problem is that they need to be high (90cm) for diasabled access and keep out the dog!

The dimensions are 1.8m x 1.2m x 0.9m so they are going to be pretty deep and need a lot of filling. Can anyone advise me on what is the best way to fill them to ensure that the vegetables get optimal nutritients and are well drained. People have advised me that I need put hardcore or a permeable membrane in the bottom and then put compost and top soil on top. Has anyone had any experience of this and could advise me on the best proportions for each of these with such big beds.

I have an unlimited supply of rubble (broken bricks etc), horse manure and soil from my own garden.

Many thanks for all of your help.

Guy

 

I filled mine with compost out my bin, soil left over from other parts of the garden and shop bought compost and my veggies are doing great. Didn't put any rubble in the bottom. I built mine out of railway sleepers. HTH

 

Thanks for your reply.

Are yours as deep as mine as I am worried that the 90cm depth will make drainage a problem due to the soil becoming too compacted?

Thanks,

Guy

 

I don't think there is any point having more than about 18" - 24" of "good" soil, so under that you cold have some "sub-soil" and below that rubble. However, you don't want it too free-draining, so a deep rubble layer is likely to make it hard to keep the soil moist