Cheapest top soil?

Chimera

angelavdavis wrote: »

How about filling the beds using the layered/lasagne gardening process? You simply layer cardboard, grass mowings/green garden waste/kitchen waste, manure over and over until you get to the top layer when you put a thin layer of compost, cover with a weed suppressant fabric or wet newspaper and then plant through this.

Ensure all layers are thoroughly wet through to encourage the composting process. Next year, you do the same to continue building up the layers.

Google for more information.

I have been advertising on freecycle to pick up grass mowings and cardboard, waste paper etc.

Seriously? I had no idea you could do this, thanks

pookiewn

Its the "no-dig" gardening. This link should help.

GreenFly_2

Try ringing your local skip hire company, when people build extensions etc they have to dig out their topsoil and subsoil for the foundations and this is placed in the skips. The skip hire have to pay to get rid of skip loads of this soil and may well deliver it to you rather than pay. The trouble with this is you may have to sort or sieve through the quality of the soil as there maybe bricks etc included in the waste and the topsoil will be mixed with the subsoil, but given time and composting your kitchen waste you can improve the soil.

Good Luck
Greenfly

Lotus-eater

My advice is to not get any cheap or free top soil.
You never know what diseases you are getting with it.

Whats in the raised bed now? What about all the soil that's in the bottom?

brians_daughter

I just got half a ton of top soil delivered from a local place for £25, not just dumped on drive either it was in 10 seperate bags. The supplier of my topsiol was found on this website. Have you rung round and asked? In B&Q - i needed 2 more bags it was almost 3 x the price

http://www.topsoil.co.uk/index.php?page=view-stockist&addr3=Exeter&type=stockist&client=rolawn&db=GB&reclimit=10

brians_daughter

also, i was told by the guy in B&Q i could mix topsoil with soil improver - which was really cheap - i didnt as the topsoil i ordered was cheaper still, but just maybe a thought for you...PLEASE ask others before doing this, i dont know much and as i say i was told it by B&Q employee, so dunnop if its right or not..although they are usually very good

Lotus-eater

brians_daughter wrote: »

i dont know much and as i say i was told it by B&Q employee, so dunnop if its right or not..although they are usually very good

No, they are usually very bad at garden advice.
Even the advice you get at some garden centres isn't very good, but at DIY sheds, you are lucky indeed if you meet someone who knows what they are talking about.

brians_daughter

Lotus-eater wrote: »

No, they are usually very bad at garden advice.
Even the advice you get at some garden centres isn't very good, but at DIY sheds, you are lucky indeed if you meet someone who knows what they are talking about.

Ah one of the guys at my local store (who i usually speak to/ask) seems to know his stuff, he used to be a gardener before he worked there and he has always seemed to be quite knowledgeable, but seeing as you can write what i know about gardening on the back of a 1st class stamp i am bound to think that.:rotfl:

Chimera

brians_daughter wrote: »

I just got half a ton of top soil delivered from a local place for £25, not just dumped on drive either it was in 10 seperate bags. The supplier of my topsiol was found on this website. Have you rung round and asked? In B&Q - i needed 2 more bags it was almost 3 x the price

http://www.topsoil.co.uk/index.php?page=view-stockist&addr3=Exeter&type=stockist&client=rolawn&db=GB&reclimit=10

That's great, shall have a look. Which supplier did you end up getting it from?

Filey

Builders' merchants often sell topsoil. It comes delivered in those big ton bags that they swing off with their lifting gear. Ask around. In this part of the world we have Keyline but several others do it.