How to fill a raised garden bed and build the perfect organic soil is very important. The goal is not simply to find out if you can fill a vegetable garden with compost, but to create an optimal living organic soil that levels and there are many methods that work very well. Soil is an essential part of planting and the first thing you need to know is that soil is not soil.
The soil is rich and full of nutrients and it is biologically active and these are all the things the earth lacks. Many people make mistakes when it comes to composting, so it’s important to understand the amount of soil and organic matter needed to fill a raised bed.
If you’ve raised your garden bed with suboptimal soil or think it’s okay to fill a raised bed with compost, don’t worry, this article has your questions answered and ways to fix them. to improve.
Contents
What is compost?
Compost is decomposed organic material used as fertilizer for plant growth. They are rich in nutrients, used as fertilizer, used for erosion control, and much more.
How is compost formed?
The decomposition of organic matter forms compost; These organic materials are composted thanks to the work of microorganisms, enzymes, fungi, etc. These organic materials can be composted within 2 weeks to 2 years, depending on the environment being cared for.
There are 2 important ingredients for successful compost. Is it so; carbon-rich ingredients and nitrogen-rich ingredients.
1. High Carbon Ingredients
Also called “browns”, they consist of stems, dry leaves, branches, husks, coffee grounds, eggshells, straws, wood ashes, brown paper bags, stems corn, peat, etc.
2. Nitrogen-rich ingredients
They are also called high-protein or “green” ingredients and consist of green leaves, food scraps, manifests, kitchen scraps, etc.
To call your compost healthy, it must contain more carbon than nitrogen. Carbon-rich ingredients allow oxygen to enter and nourish organisms. However, when there is more nitrogen, it starts to smell bad and needs time to break down.
Things not to add to your compost pile include; Meat, fish, egg, charcoal, black walnut leaves, dairy products.
Can you fill a raised bed with compost?
A raised bed is a form of gardening that is done on ground higher than the ground. It is usually 6 to 8 inches high and 3 to 6 feet wide. Raised beds can be used for any garden situation, but are generally recommended for a small garden. Plants in a raised bed tend to grow faster than in a typical garden, they are also easy to maintain. Raised beds allow you to choose the type of soil you will use for planting. Some other benefits of using raised beds are as follows;
- You don’t have to struggle with erosion or people’s feet on the ground.
- There are few weeds in a raised bed. It saves you a lot of time and energy.
- Sandy soil can hold water and there is better drainage for clay soil.
- There is plenty of room for plants to grow.
- With raised beds, you don’t have to till your garden every year to add fertilizer. Most gardeners keep the bed and simply fill it with materials like compost etc.
When creating a raised bed, compost is an important factor that helps your plants grow.
Why is compost important for raised beds?
- Plants grown with rich compost and natural minerals are often healthier to eat, rich in vitamins and other nutrients.
- Plants grown in compost do not need pests.
- Most chemical fertilizers are harsh and damage plants, but compost-rich soil provides plants with all the natural nutrients they need to grow.
- Compost makes available a range of bacteria and fungi that help break down organic matter. Humus†
- The nutrients provided by the compost, together with the nutrients from the soil, provide a balanced source of nutrients for plants.
Can I fill my raised beds only with compost?
No, you should not fill raised beds with compost alone due to the nutrients in compost, many people may consider planting in compost alone. But growing your plant with compost alone is not recommended. Compost is a soil correction; it adds some nutrients to the soil, but lacks other nutrients and minerals necessary for plant growth.
How about just using compost to grow your plant?
It’s important not to use compost just to grow your plant, as it can cause a water retention problem. Below are the events that occur when you only use compost to grow your plant:
1. Stability
Compost, when added to soil, helps with water retention and better drainage. However, if used alone, water can run off quickly and dry quickly.
2. Loss of other nutrients
Plants need specific nutrients to grow, while compost contains some nutrients, but not all. Planting only in compost will deprive the plants of those nutrients the soil has to offer.
3. Dissect
Compost is just organic material, so it will continue to decompose even after you plant it. This means the amount will decrease as your crop grows.
conclusion
Finally, adding compost to your raised beds is very important, but growing your plant on compost alone is bad for your plant. Compost is only good as a supplement. It’s a bit strange, but using pure soil in a container will only quickly turn into something akin to cement, so go ahead and add a good amount of compost, then use your soil as well.