How to Fill a Raised Garden Bed So Plants Thrive
Filling it correctly is the key to success. If you’re wondering what to put in a raised garden bed, it’s important to know it’s not just soil. Layering materials creates an environment that warms up faster, retains moisture better, and provides plants with nutrients.
How Layering Works in a Raised Garden Bed
Raised beds are filled from the bottom with coarser material and topped with finer layers. This helps ensure good drainage, aeration, and a gradual release of nutrients.
Ideal Raised Bed Layers Step by Step
- Coarse organic material – branches, sticks or wood chips create drainage and air circulation.
- Garden waste – grass clippings, leaves or straw serve as a natural nutrient source.
- Compost – a key layer that feeds the soil and boosts fertility.
- Quality garden soil – the top layer for planting.
Tip: If you don’t have your own compost, you can replace it with a high-quality store-bought substrate. What matters most is that the top layer is fine-textured and holds moisture well.
What to Put in a Raised Bed for Vegetables, Herbs and Flowers
Vegetables prefer nutrient-rich soil with a higher compost content. Herbs do best in a lighter, more free-draining mix, while ornamental flowers are usually fine with a universal blend of soil and compost.
Summary
A properly filled raised garden bed supports healthy plant growth and a better harvest. A combination of coarse material, organic waste, compost and soil creates ideal conditions for growing throughout the season.