When all else fails go to TBN

[gotrocks]

How much Potting soil needed to fill a large raised bed? I know how many cu.ft. is needed.


My local store has potting soil in 20 lb and 40 lb bags, it does not give cu.ft.

The mfg site list 2 cu.ft. bags but not the weight, and 20 & 40 lb bags but not the
volume.

Ok, I've called the mfg. they can't answer, I can't find a conversion site on the web that will solve this problem.

I know that when soil gets wet the weight can vary considrably. .

Can someone direct me to a site or just tell me approx how much a cu.ft. of potting soil should weigh?

Thanks to all.

 

[bczoom]

gotrocks,

Don't quote me on this but I think a 40# equates to approx. .5 or .6 cu/ft.

You said "large raised bed". How big? Would it be better or cheaper to get a truck load of topsoil?

 

[shoppintractors]

This website lists loose top-soil as 1600 pounds per cubic yard.

Don

 

[RalphVa]

I read somewhere recently that soil is about 2,000 pounds per yard (27 cu. ft.). This puts a 40# bag at 0.5 cu.ft. This is typically what I've seen posted on bags of that weight that post the cubic footage. You can get some really huge bags of mulch sometimes that may go up around 2 cu.ft., but most of the small bags are 0.5 cu.ft.

I'd be inclined to get plain dirt or soil for your raised bed unless you really want it to drain extremely well. Just having a raised bed allows it to drain pretty good.

I'm a master gardener. I only use potting soil for starting seeds on trays under lights and for repotting any of these that get too big before putting into the ground.

You can get the soil in bags, too. Lace it with a little bit of composted cow manure if you want stuff to grow good, but not too much. You can buy it in bags, too. If it's dry, it won't stink.

Ralph

 

[gotrocks]

Thanks to you three, quick on the trigger, responders. I knew TBN would help.
RalphVa, thanks for the additional suggestions.
Actually I had been looking at potting and top soil in the bags. The bed that is in progress is for blueberries.
I have placed large stones that are approx. 14-16 inches high and plan to ad aprox. 12 inches of combination peat and soil mixed well.
We have a couple of places that sell the "mixed" soil by the yard ($35??), I don't really know what is in their "mix" but it looks like the stuff in most of the bags I've tried.
I would appreciate any additional suggestions re; my new blueberry patch.