The Best Soil Mix for Raised Beds (and How to Fill One for Less)
A simple recipe of topsoil, compost and aeration, plus a layering trick that cuts the cost of filling a tall bed.
A reliable recipe
A good all-purpose raised bed mix is roughly 60 percent screened topsoil, 30 percent compost and 10 percent aeration such as pine bark fines. It holds moisture, drains well and feeds plants for the first season.
Fill the bottom cheaply
Tall beds take a lot of soil. Fill the bottom third with logs, branches, leaves and plain cardboard. These break down slowly, feeding soil life and saving money. Top with at least 12 inches of your soil mix.
Quick tips
- Water each layer as you build
- Expect the soil to settle; top up next season
Keep it healthy every year
Add two or three inches of compost each spring, mulch in summer, and avoid walking on the soil. Rotate crop families from year to year to reduce pests and disease.
