Ariel, congrats on the beds, they are really nice looking!

I mostly filled my new beds with hay, peat moss and black cow, they are easy for me to obtain, sometimes pine bark fines if I can find them, later on before planting I can add fertilizers. After every season, I have to add more of the same ingredients, it works for me and does not smell.

Silvia

Thank you!

I was just reading about " Al's" soil mix, has anyone made it before? What are your thought about it?

Al's mix is good especially for containers. I don't make it anymore because is not easy to find the pine fines near by. For a raised bed you can use a lot of different things because it is not a container where is better to have a soil less mix.

Some people use mushroom compost for the raised beds, but later on they have problem with the ph , few years back somebody got it for me and was not of a good quality, had bugs and plastic, etc. I don't use it anymore for that reason.

Silvia

If you are planning to plant in it now, you'll have to go with potting mix. You can add stuff to it, like pine bare, compost, etc. but I wouldn't plant anything in ingredients that haven't broken down. Compost would be best, but that takes time to break down.

You could use top soil but you'd have to add amendments to it. You could check Walmart for Timberlane bark mulch (I've used that with good results), its smaller than regular bark pieces and does break down faster.

I would check out the compost/organic site here on Garden Web. Al's mix is not for inground growing. Only for containers. Would cost you a small fortune for beds your size.

Post your question here
Compost/soil

Okay, I have to ask. Why are the beds so very deep? I've been curious about this since you first posted this thread. Most raised beds I've seen are less than half that depth. What are you planning to grow in them?

Thank you for everyone's advice.

writersblock, We made them so so high so I wouldn't have to bend over as much. I had not originally planned to make it so high, but when hubby and I saw this style garden on Pinterest, we knew that was a design we could both agree with.

I fill my beds with 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 organic top soil, and 1/3 composted cow manure. I've had good success with this mix.

I really like your raised beds. Please post again when you have plants in there! I would love to see it!

I actually have put a few herbs in. I will take a picture tomorrow.