Frequently Asked Questions About Filling Raised Garden Beds
Do you have any other questions about filling your garden beds? Here are some of the most common questions gardeners have when building and filling raised beds.

Do I need to remove weeds from the bottom of the raised bed?

No, you don't have to remove weeds from the bottom of your raised bed, but failing to do so will allow them to sit still and invade your new bed.

One of the best practices is to simply cover the bottom of the newly grown bed with cardboard to suppress weeds. Cardboard breaks down over time, but when it breaks down, the weeds die.

Can topsoil be used in raised beds?

Topsoil is part of the soil mix used for raised beds, but you can't just use topsoil to fill new garden beds. Topsoil is filler; it increases the amount of soil in your garden bed. However, plants require a lot of nutrients, and the topsoil does not contain enough organic matter for plants to grow as needed.

Typically, when you create a raised bed mix, topsoil should make up 10-20% of the mix. You don't want to increase it because your plants need a lot of nutrients.

Can you fill a raised bed with compost?

No, you shouldn't just fill your raised beds with compost. When creating a soil mix for raised beds, it should make up 30-50 percent of your garden soil. While compost will provide your plants with plenty of nutrients, the soil can drain too quickly, washing away nutrients and starving your plants.

final thoughts

Filling up attic beds is an expensive endeavor that keeps many people away from gardening. Don't let the cost stop you from gardening; try some of these tips for filling raised beds on the cheap. Your plant and your budget will be happy.

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