Raised beds seem like a lovely thing to have. Out of reach for hungry critters; easier to till, weed, and tend; quicker to swap out soil between seasons. But if you’ve ever built a raised bed, filling it can be a bit perplexing and overwhelming. Filling with black dirt could be costly, and if you used bagged dirt? The plastic!
So how can you fill a raised bed without breaking the bank while also keeping it food safe? Here are seven ideas for inexpensive filler.
1. Yard Waste
If you’re planning on building a raised bed in the spring, let your leaves rest through the winter. Not only will they make great fill the following spring, but doing so is good for pollinators!
Make sure to set aside any broken twigs and branches in your yard, too!
2. Concrete
If you’ve undone any yard projects or have any broken pieces remaining from a completed one, toss ‘em in! Concrete post sets, pavers, bricks. Broke up an old concrete driveway? That’ll do, too! Just don’t put in pieces of asphalt. The materials it’s made from could seep into the dirt and make your veggies less than desirable.
3. Broken Pots
Broken terra cotta pots always break my heart. I hate to throw them. I’ve managed to relocate a few to our fairy garden over the years, but beyond that, their uses are limited. They do, however, make good fill for pots and gardens. Toss ‘em in!
4. Cardboard
Got an Amazon problem? Bury the evidence….
For real, cardboard is great in the garden. We frequently use it to cover earth — whether it be to kill grass or to keep weeds at bay. It breaks down easily and won’t pollute the soils. Just pull all the tape off first.
5. Timber
If you have a downed tree or random logs hiding in the back corners of your yard, this is a great way to get rid of some of it. But be careful not to put in too much, as it may negatively change the soil’s pH.
6. Old Toilet or Sink
While you don’t want to include any major appliances in your garden, an old, porcelain toilet doesn’t contain any chemicals or metals that could be hazardous to your health. While most plumbers will happily haul your old toilet away, if they don’t, feel free to bury it.
7. Bodies
Kidding. Or am I…?
Just keep Earl out of your garden. You don’t want the spices in those black-eyes peas to get you, too. 😉
8. Fabric
In our house, we upcycle a lot of natural fibers. Mama makes upcycled tissues and tissue boxes, braided rugs, and superhero capes. All these projects equate to a lot of scrap. While fabric recycling Is a great option, the material’s actual fate is sometimes uncertain. On the bright side, natural fibers can easily be composted. As a bonus, including fabric in your soil is great to help retain moisture.
9. Dig a Hole
Finally, the best way to fill a hole, is to dig a hole. This summer we have the pleasure of building ourselves a gravel pad, which will involve moving many, many wheelbarrows full of dirt out of our side yard.
If you’re not interested in building yourself a driveway, I don’t blame you. There are more beautiful reasons to dig a hole though, like rain gardens and ponds.
Rain gardens are easily one of my favorite yard projects and talking about them turns me into a total dirt digging dork. Check out how to build one here.
10. Compost
Ideally, your garden will include plenty of compost. If you don’t have any right off hand, consider getting yourself started. It’s always good to top off your soil with it every year. When you do, put some cardboard over the surface to keep the volunteer sprouts at bay.
If you’re anything like us, you’ll have no problem filling your raised bed once you look around. If you’re still struggling, ask your neighbors if they have anything that would help out your mission. Most people have some extra yard debris that would be perfect. They may even be itching to take out a patch of sod or build a fire pit. Ask if you can help out and rehome their dirt as payment.
Any suggestions that we missed? Share them in the comments below!
— Melissa, The Joneses Four
