Ok, it doesn't sound like the best choice. I know it turns to rock in containers. I thought maybe in a raised bed it might do ok, where it doesn't dry out as quickly. I'm putting in a raised bed of my own, and thinking about trying this product: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Permagreen-PRO-1-5-cu-ft-Raised-Bed-Garden-Soil-ProGS/205127423

Just one four foot by eight foot area filled to a depth of ten inches is one cubic yard, so is it OK to assume that it's going to be mixed in to existing dirt or is it meant to be the new soil entirely?

That HD stuff doesn't look at all bad except there's no commercial definition at all for "humus" and they're selling you maybe 70% (?) dirt and the rest is really bulking fillers. You might get something like Kellogg's which makes a pretty decent amendment and has low BS packaging, but which should be mixed into dirt to supply minerals and structure. Just an opinion...

Just make sure you mix the garden soil bag with your garden dirt. Some people put this in containers without understanding what it is.

You may start with some brand that you know and trust, and continue to amend it with other things also. For example, even if many soil mixes say that they feed for 3 or 4 months, but you certainly can add in compost and other ingredients at the same time also.

According to the product label "This product is formulated from one or more of the following: Peat, processed forest products, coir, and/or compost, sphagnum peat moss, fertilizer, and a wetting agent." All of that is a soil amendment, not a soil. The directions instruct you to add this product to garden soil. It is not meant to be used alone to grow anything. The instructions also recommend wearing gloves when handling the product.

"Miracle Gro Garden Soil" is not garden soil, but it is mislabeled.

kimmq is kimmsr

Thanks for feedback, folks. With respect to the size, yes, my friend's raised beds are small. 3'x5'x8" each, or 10 cu ft per bed. I went ahead and bought the mix that I mentioned above for my own project. Topsoil, compost, peat, and bark fines. It looked like a decent product out of the bag. My goal is a raised bed mix that won't ever require any tilling. I'm planting strawberries, rhubarb, and asparagus, and don't want to disturb the roots after I plant.

If that's the case if you want to put some high quality stuff in in the first place. Biochar, mushroom compost or horse manure compost are some of the things I add for new soil mix, aside from making my own leaves compost and worm casting.

I would avoid MiracleGro unless you like fungus gnats taking over your garden. And avoid the Home Depot inhouse brand "Vigoro", it is junk, I wasted a lot money on that stuff when I started. It now take up space in the lowest depth of my raised beds.

Even though I didn't intend to till, I ended up having to because there are trees growing around and their roots invade the beds and stealing the nutrients, so you may want to keep that in mind.

I bought it recently at Home Depot because it was on sale 5 smallish size bags for $10. I was planning to use it as a soil amendment in my flowers beds because what I have going on around my house is SOLID yellow/orange clay that was hidden under about 2” of bark mulch. No joke, I could probably make my own flower pots out of this clay, its that dense. I’m in a housing tract so they basically stripped away all the top soil. I would be hesitant to use it for strictly raised beds.