How to Build Organic Soil for Raised Beds
Making organic soil is much easier than you may think. With some simple items and time you can make your own soil for your raised beds for much less than what it would cost to purchase. Organic soils will provide a healthier base for your plants to thrive.
Raised beds are an excellent idea for any gardener. It is much easier to grow healthy plants and you don’t have to put the added stress on yourself or your body when it comes to pulling weeds and caring for the garden in general. Organic soil can easily be built into any raised bed.
What You’ll Need:
- Rake
- Organic 10-10-10 Fertilizer
- Hand Tiller
- Organic Matter
- Garden Soil
- Start by tilling the soil under your raised bed. As long as no artificial fertilizers have been added at any time to this soil, it will be organic. Loosen up the soil so it will be easier for the plants to grow down into it as well. Use your hand tiller for this and rake to smooth out the area.
- Add native soil to your bed. This means soil that you have got from your own yard. If you do not have any to spare, then get a bag of organic soil. Mix it in with what you already have.
- Spread organic matter over the bed, use two inches of the matter for every six inches of soil that is used. The organic matter should consist of manure, dried leaves, vegetables, grass clippings and aged compost.
- Add your 10-10-10 organic fertilizer to this mixture. One pound of the fertilizer should be added for every 100 square feet of the garden. Mix them together thoroughly with your hand tiller. Once you are certain that they are properly mixed, use your rake to smooth the area.