thanks for the great and detailed information
Theakson


"Cereoid+10+" wrote in message
.. .
Fill the bottom third with crushed granite and/or quartz gravel. This will
serve as the drainage layer. Do not use limestone or any other calcareous
rock.

Fill the top two thirds with a mixture of coarse builder's sand, humus and
ground sphagnum peat to make your soil.

Do not use "topsoil" because what you get under that name can be anything
and may have too much clay, weed seeds or even toxic chemicals, such as
salt, in it.



theakson wrote in message
om...
All

I am new to gardening and am about to construct a series of raised
garden
beds. I have a good idea as to how to build the frame BUT am a little
stumped as to what to fill it with. I can't believe that I have to fill
the
whole thing with topsoil as my calculations lead me to believe that a
30'
by
4' by 24" area would require 8.9 yards or 12.4 tons of topsoil. I assume
that I have to have a drainage media such as gravel or sand, a middle
layer
of some material and top level of higher quality soil. Am I correct. If
so
what should the middle layer and drainage area consist of in order to
provide an excellent growth medium for a mix of plants ? what are the
depths of these layers and should I mix in fertilizers as I put it in?

Hope these are good questions and if anyone has suggestions as to web
resources or books I can read on this topic I would be most grateful


Thanks

MK