really need help converting this!

aimeruni · March 28, 2012

NOTE: To my knowledge, the soil amount required to fill raised beds is by volume (weight). Please specify the measurements in gallons for EACH ingredient, by volume.

The soil mix I'll be using will be for raised beds; they are 4' x 8' and 4' x 4'.

The 4' x 4' needs 103 gallons of soil, the 4' x 8' 206 gallons of soil.

The soil mixes I plan to use unfortunately are all in percentages with the ingredients. This makes no sense to me.

65% screened top soil, 20% compost, 10% well aged manure, and 5% peat.

Raised bed mix two...

"I would suggest a raised bed soil would be about 70-80% mineral components as the structural base - topsoil, sand, fine Turface ... and 20-30% other organic ingredients to make up the rest. It won't matter much what the organic ingredients ARE, because at that low % they won't affect the structure much as it relates to drainage. I think that finished compost or pine bark fines are an excellent addition because neither will significantly immobilize nitrogen (even if it does, that's fixable). Reed/sedge peat is another good choice."

dice · March 28, 2012

The proportions in those formulas are by volume. So you would use
six and half wheelbarrows of topsoil, 2 wheelbarrows of compost,
1 wheelbarrow of manure, and half a wheelbarrow of peat for the
first formula.

Most people find it more practical to find a landscape materials supply
near enough to drive to and pick out some pre-mixed blend suitable
for raised beds, then get so many cubic yards, either in the back of
a pickup or delivered.

Maybe this helps: http://www.globalrph.com/start/landscape.htm

Doug9345 · April 1, 2012

Percent means per hundred so in gallons and rounding the beds to 100 and 200 gallons
65 gal screened top soil, 20gal compost, 10gal well aged manure, and 5gallons peat. Twice as much for the big bed.

March 28, 2012	#1
aimeruni Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brooksville FL, zone 9a Posts: 67	really need help converting this! NOTE: To my knowledge, the soil amount required to fill raised beds is by volume (weight). Please specify the measurements in gallons for EACH ingredient, by volume. The soil mix I'll be using will be for raised beds; they are 4' x 8' and 4' x 4'. The 4' x 4' needs 103 gallons of soil, the 4' x 8' 206 gallons of soil. The soil mixes I plan to use unfortunately are all in percentages with the ingredients. This makes no sense to me. 65% screened top soil, 20% compost, 10% well aged manure, and 5% peat. Raised bed mix two... "I would suggest a raised bed soil would be about 70-80% mineral components as the structural base - topsoil, sand, fine Turface ... and 20-30% other organic ingredients to make up the rest. It won't matter much what the organic ingredients ARE, because at that low % they won't affect the structure much as it relates to drainage. I think that finished compost or pine bark fines are an excellent addition because neither will significantly immobilize nitrogen (even if it does, that's fixable). Reed/sedge peat is another good choice."

March 28, 2012	#2
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	The proportions in those formulas are by volume. So you would use six and half wheelbarrows of topsoil, 2 wheelbarrows of compost, 1 wheelbarrow of manure, and half a wheelbarrow of peat for the first formula. Most people find it more practical to find a landscape materials supply near enough to drive to and pick out some pre-mixed blend suitable for raised beds, then get so many cubic yards, either in the back of a pickup or delivered. Maybe this helps: http://www.globalrph.com/start/landscape.htm __________________ -- alias

April 1, 2012	#3
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	Percent means per hundred so in gallons and rounding the beds to 100 and 200 gallons 65 gal screened top soil, 20gal compost, 10gal well aged manure, and 5gallons peat. Twice as much for the big bed.