New raised beds

[markspearce]

Hi Charles 

My new bed in the polytunnel has been dug and all big stones gravel sand etc removed,It was an old path before.This gives me about 450 mm deep bed, on the bottom is clay sub soil.Should I now fork over the bottom and then just add horse manure and green waste compost which we have lots of ,or should i add some top soil as its has none at all,do I then just let the soil settle over winter or firm it down.?Would you firm it down in stages or just at the end

Kind Regards

Mark

[charles]

I would not fork over the subsoil, its up to you…  If you add soil, that gives long-term height to the bed, but you could just add your organic matter, I would tamp it down as you go. You can’t compact compost and firming it gives an idea of eventual height, otherwise its fluffy and will sink a lot by spring.

[Author]

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