Garden

[Biftu]

I purchased a smallish raised bed that is about 24"w x 13'd x 16"h. I haven't assembled it yet. This is my first time trying a raised bed and no matter how much I search I am having a hard time figuring out how many bags of soil I need to fill it.  So confusing.  Can anyone help?

[gardenman]

Your raised bed would have about 34 cubic feet of space if you filled it to the top with soil. (2'X13'X1.33'= 34+ cubic feet.) Most bagged garden soils come in one or two cubic foot bags, so 34 one cubic foot bags or 17 two cubic foot bags would fill it. Assuming you fill it with just soil. Some people like a layer of gravel or stone in the bottom for drainage and that would displace some of the need for soil. Since many plants are more shallow-rooted and don't need 16" of soil, some will fill the bottom with "stuff" of one kind or another to avoid spending more money on soil. 

[Still Raining]

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@gardenman wrote:

Your raised bed would have about 34 cubic feet of space if you filled it to the top with soil. (2'X13'X1.33'= 34+ cubic feet.) Most bagged garden soils come in one or two cubic foot bags, so 34 one cubic foot bags or 17 two cubic foot bags would fill it. Assuming you fill it with just soil. Some people like a layer of gravel or stone in the bottom for drainage and that would displace some of the need for soil. Since many plants are more shallow-rooted and don't need 16" of soil, some will fill the bottom with "stuff" of one kind or another to avoid spending more money on soil. 

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Nope, check the math.

2 x 1.1 x 1.3 = 2.8

[gardenman]

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@Still Raining wrote:

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@gardenman wrote:

Your raised bed would have about 34 cubic feet of space if you filled it to the top with soil. (2'X13'X1.33'= 34+ cubic feet.) Most bagged garden soils come in one or two cubic foot bags, so 34 one cubic foot bags or 17 two cubic foot bags would fill it. Assuming you fill it with just soil. Some people like a layer of gravel or stone in the bottom for drainage and that would displace some of the need for soil. Since many plants are more shallow-rooted and don't need 16" of soil, some will fill the bottom with "stuff" of one kind or another to avoid spending more money on soil. 

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Nope, check the math.

2 x 1.1 x 1.3 = 2.8

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In her post, she says it's thirteen feet, not thirteen inches. That's why I did the math as I did. 

[Still Raining]

@gardenman @Biftu 

Too right!  My bad.  Back to my coffee.

[Biftu]

Now I'm getting confused.  I see that garden soil comes in .75, 1.5,or 2 foot bags.  What I need to know is how many bags I will need to fill my bed.  I will fill the bottom, maybe with old logs I have, to avoid buying so much soil.  Why is this so confusing to me!

[Biftu]

Thanks @gardenman  Sure is more needed soil than I expected.

[dancingwoman]

@Biftu  Check out garden centers near you or nurseries.  They sometimes sell soil by the pu truck load.  Might be cheaper that way...DW

[Icegoddess]

If your measurements are correct except for that 13 foot deep one you'll only need about 1 2-cu ft bags of soil, not a truck load.  You're not going to want to fill it all the way to the top.  

[PA Mom-mom]

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@Biftu wrote:

Now I'm getting confused.  I see that garden soil comes in .75, 1.5,or 2 foot bags.  What I need to know is how many bags I will need to fill my bed.  I will fill the bottom, maybe with old logs I have, to avoid buying so much soil.  Why is this so confusing to me!

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@gardenman  Do you see any issues with filling the bottom of the bed with old logs as stated by @Biftu . I'm asking because my DD is making one for my GD to plant carrots. (Long story involving chicken manure in the regular garden...) And, I thought certain kinds of wood affect pH of soil.