How should I fill my raised garden bed?

by Landon
(houston, TX)

Hi, I recently built a raised garden bed with bricks/mortar. The bed is 1 1/2 feet high, 2 feet wide and 12 feet long. The space is empty, and I was about to fill the entire thing with gardening soil, but now I'm not sure if that's the right option. I read on this site to build in layers, after lining the bottom with newspaper, starting with lucerne hay and so on... I'm not sure where to find lucerne hay or the other materials listed. I live in Houston, TX and I'm just trying to figure out what would be the most economical method of filling the bed that will promote vegetable growth to the seeds my wife is wanting to plant?

Thanks for your input!

Comments for How should I fill my raised garden bed?

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Aug 07, 2016
 Raised bed NEW
by: Anonymous

The feed store usually carries hay or straw and can Teri you where to find the hay you need. I used straw on the top of cardboard then bags of garden soil from big box store. Mix my own compost in beds worked for me. Ellen from Georgia
Aug 08, 2016
 Filling a raised garden NEW
by: Eversunny

The most economical would be to use good soil. But it would have to be good with plenty of old compost if possible. Seeds could then go straight in. The layers are good as they can rot down over weeks/months to provide soil structure and nutrients. Newspaper/cardboard etc is used first if you need to smother grass or weeds that might grow up, otherwise don't need to do it if you can't find paper. Whatever you can find, use! Neighbors grass clippings, twigs, leaves, kitchen scraps, weeds and anything that will rot down can go in, but just be careful to note that as rot happens, the whole garden will sink. So either pile it up and let it rot over a while or go for straight soil so you can plant now.

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