By Funguy
Berkshire,
United Kingdom 
I am building a raised bed border with railway sleepers. It will take a large volume to fill as it is about 2 and half meters long by around 1m wide. What is the best mix to fill with? e.g Multipurpose Compost - Peat - Rotted Horse manure - John Innes - Topsoil. And what ratio's of the right ingredients?
26 May, 2011
Answers
Yes perennials and maybe some annual vegetables. I may also use as a nursery bed next year. It is facing South aswell.
What would your soil conditioner of choice be, for this situation Bulbaholic?
26 May, 2011
Of choice it would be leaf mould but I certainly could not produce enough for your raised bed. I would go to B&Q and see what peat free soil conditioner they have. It would have been composted bark but this is rarely offered for sale now.
26 May, 2011
I assume that the raised bed will be used for growing perenial plants? If I were filling the bed I would use 3 parts top soil, 1 part soil conditioner and 1 part grit (about 6mm). Then throw some bone meal in as a slow release fertiliser. The proportions are by no means strict, it will depend on what you can get cheaply enough.
26 May, 2011