Where is the cheapest place to buy bagged compost?

terrynw3

I have built 2 very large raised beds in my back garden and need a lot of soil to fill them. I am wondering where the cheapest place is,to buy bagged compost(terraced house).

I am also wondering is anyone knows how to fill these beds, i have bought pond liner to protect sleepers/wall and will overlap these slightly to allow drainage. I am wondering though if i should put compost straight in or if there should be a layer of small stones for drainage?

Any advice much appreciated

anotherbaldrick

If you have built the raised beds on the original earth no need for a gravel bed, if built on top of an impervious surface yes some gravel at the bottom. But I would not fill them with compost, too light and friable. I would get them to deliver sieved weed free topsoil ( 1 cu m bulk bag's ) and fill to within 100 mm of the top and then dig 50mm of compost into the top layer.

drummer_666

asda had grow bags on half price, I can't remember the quantity, but was £1.50, prob about 1/3rd of the cost of other compost for way more of it, very very cheap!

gmgmgm

I had this problem a while back- look at the obvious places e.g. garden centres, B&Q, Wickes and then use a spreadsheet to work it out.

Took only a moment to see that in my case a B&Q special offer was significantly cheaper than most, for a certain quality of compost.

Nick_C

Check your local household waste recycling centre. Many Councils sell compost (made from collected garden waste) back to householders at a reduced rate.

Nile

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A._Badger

As anothernbaldrick says, don't use soilless compost - it's the wrong stuff, designed for short term use in pots. It won't hold the right levels of water or nutrients and it won't prrovide the best rooting environment. You need decent quality topsoil, which you can buy in bulk from local suppliers.

malmesbury_2

A._Badger wrote: »

As anothernbaldrick says, don't use soilless compost - it's the wrong stuff, designed for short term use in pots. It won't hold the right levels of water or nutrients and it won't prrovide the best rooting environment. You need decent quality topsoil, which you can buy in bulk from local suppliers.

This is good advice, also look on your local gumtree as people are always offering free topsoil for collection.