Garden Projects
Soil Mix For Raised Garden Beds
The exact blends, ratios, and step-by-step method we use to fill raised beds once—and keep them thriving for seasons. What makes a great raised bed mix? Raised beds do best with a blend that drains well, holds steady moisture, and feeds the soil food web. Think of it as […]
What makes a great raised bed mix?
Raised beds do best with a blend that drains well, holds steady moisture, and feeds the soil food web. Think of it as structure (minerals), nutrition (compost), and moisture management (coir/peat + aeration). Below are three reliable mixes—pick the one that fits your climate and budget.
Lucky Cat 9b Raised-Bed Mix (Products & Ratios)
For our hot, dry zone 9b summers, this blend stays airy, holds moisture, and feeds steadily without going soggy:
Why 70/30? In 9b heat, we want moisture retention without compaction. Kellogg’s raised-bed mix gives structure & airflow; ~30% mushroom compost boosts organic matter while keeping salts reasonable.
Example for a 4′×8′×12″ bed (32 cu ft)
- Kellogg Raised Bed & Potting Mix (70%): 22.4 cu ft → ~12 bags at 2 cu ft or ~8 bales at 3 cu ft.
- Garden Time Mushroom Compost (30%): 9.6 cu ft → ~10 bags at 1 cu ft.
- Top-off for settling: add ~10% extra if you’re filling a brand-new bed (≈ 3 cu ft).
Fertilizer Plan (Espoma)
At Planting/Transplant — Bio-tone Starter Plus
- Bed prep (economical): mix ~4 lb per 100 sq ft into the top 4–6″ (for a 4×8 bed ≈ 1.3 lb).
- Potting-mix method (optional): if blending into a custom potting mix, use ~1 cup per cu ft.
Ongoing Feeding — Garden-tone
- Soil prep rate: about 3–3.5 lb per 50 sq ft (≈ 2 lb for a 4×8 bed); work into top 4–5″.
- Established plants: up to ~⅓ cup per plant or along rows; re-feed every 4–6 weeks
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