If you are considering making a DIY raised garden, then you need to take every step of the process seriously. Filling a raised bed with soil is an important step in planting. To avoid waste and save money, it is important to calculate the amount of soil you will need. Below is a formula for calculating the required soil volume based on the size and shape of your raised bed. For your convenience, we have attached a table with the corresponding indicators for our flower beds so that you can easily calculate the amount of soil you will need.
Soil Volume Calculation Formula
The formula for calculating the amount of soil varies depending on the shape of the raised bed. Before getting into the formula, you need to know which units of measurement you need. For the calculations, you'll need to find the appropriate bed sizes, then convert them to common units. For example, if the volume measurement is in feet, first convert the corresponding measurement for the bed to feet.
Raised bed square/rectangular soil volume formula
The formula for soil volume in a rectangular bed is very simple and involves only three measurements. You can also refer to the product page for the volume of each configuration in the standard kit.
V=length x width x height
V represents the volume of soil you need to fill.
L is the length of the loft bed.
W is the width of the loft bed.
H refers to the height of the raised bed.
1. Measure the length, height and width of the bed. Remember to convert the measurements to the same units. For example, if your bed is 17 inches, divide by 12 to get 1.4 feet.
2. Multiply the measurements.
3. Divide the number by 27 to convert to square yards, since loose soil is usually sold by the yard.
Circular Raised Bed Recipe
To calculate the area of a circular loft bed, you need to know the radius and height of the bed, which you can find on the product page. The radius is half the diameter of the circle. Square the radius, then multiply by 3.14. Finally, multiply the number by the height to get the volume.
V=r^2x3.14xH
Calculation of the soil in the geometric bed
When the bed is a regular hexagon (meaning the sides are all the same length), the formula below works for a hexagonal loft bed.
V=3/2(√3)S2xH
V is the total volume of soil
S is equal to the length of one side of a regular hexagon
H is equal to bed
Soil Depth for High Raised Beds
The amount of soil needed also depends on the type of plants you wish to grow. Plants with deep roots need more soil, while others need shallow soil to cover their roots. If all of these calculations feel like a chore to you, you can purchase ready-made raised garden bed kits from reliable sources for easy planting.
The following plants have 12-18 inch roots
garlic, onion, leek
Lettuce, Brussels Sprouts, Corn
spinach, cabbage, radish
strawberry
The following plants have 18-24 inch roots
beans, peas
Hami melon, pumpkin, eggplant and carrot
, radishes, beets
potato
The following are deep rooted plants 24-36" Artichoke, Asparagus, Parsnip, Rhubarb, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Watermelon Pros The benefit of raised garden beds is that you can grow plants at half the depth you would normally need, so you can pretty much grow them in our 17" and 32" Grow all of the plants in the above list in . You can mix and match veggies to your taste and preference, making sure to keep them separate. What is mulch and why do I need it?
Mulch is a layer that covers soil, usually made of organic material. It is usually made from shredded tree bark, but alternatives can include grass clippings, leaves, sawdust or straw. Mulch is used to improve the aesthetics of garden beds and to protect the soil by keeping it moist and inhibiting weed growth. Organic mulch can be used to improve soil quality and fertility.
It's important to replenish the soil in your garden bed to ensure it doesn't become depleted of nutrients. To keep soil healthy, adding organic matter to the soil is essential. You can add chopped leaves to the soil in the fall and add compost in the spring. Consider starting composting so you can reduce waste and the amount of fertilizer you need.
Soil mixes suitable for raised beds
For good drainage, you need to use premixed soil. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs require a nutrient-dense, lightweight soil mix, usually consisting of the following ratios:
60% high-quality soil
30% compostable material
10% soil-free additive
You can experiment with this ratio to see which mixture works best for different crops. Garden soil should not fill the entire bed, as it is too heavy to drain well. For best results, you should add half of the potting soil to the mix.
how to prevent weeds
You should add material to the bottom of the bed to prevent weed growth. Cardboard can be used as it is an inexpensive and readily available solution for creating a weed barrier while still being porous enough for good drainage. However, it degrades rapidly. If you want a more permanent solution, you can use landscape fabric or hardware cloth to deter weeds and pests such as gophers and moles.
