When growing plants in containers or raised beds, you need to pay special attention to the soil you use. Soil taken from your yard or a garden bed is too dense to use in a pot or raised bed. Instead, for containers, you'll want to usepotting mix(also called potting soil), a lightweight and fluffy alternative. For raised beds, you'll want to use a blend of potting mix and garden soil.
A potting mix likeMiracle-Gro® Potting Mixcreates the ideal growing environment for your plants,thanks to the right blend of materialsthat provide excellent drainage, space for airflow, and even a good dose of plant food to provide your plants with the nutrition they need. What's more, using new soil means you don't have to worry about any diseases or bugs lurking in the ground, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting roots. For extra protection against over- and under-watering your plants,Miracle-Gro® Moisture Control® Potting Mixis an excellent choice.
Whether deep or shallow, raised beds give a gardener a way to create ideal soil conditions on an even larger scale. While potting mix alone is too light for use in raised beds, creating a 50:50 blend of potting mix andMiracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil will give just the right balance.
Top-notch potting mix and raised bed soil may cost more than low-quality versions, but you really get what you pay for. Poor quality mixes and soils are often heavy, dense, and poor-draining, making it tough on roots and if roots aren't happy, plants won't flourish.
Speaking of flourishing, another way to keep your plants happy is to begin nourishing them a month after planting withMiracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food. Be sure to follow label directions!
For more information on growing your best garden, or the products that can help make that happen, click any of the links below.
FAQs
Soil taken from your yard or a garden bed is too dense to use in a pot or raised bed. Instead, for containers, you'll want to use potting mix (also called potting soil), a lightweight and fluffy alternative. For raised beds, you'll want to use a blend of potting mix and garden soil.
What is the best potting soil for raised beds? ›
If it's only a small bed you're looking to fill, I'd recommend Kellogg's Organics Raised Bed and Potting Mix (2cu. ft), if available. Grab some composted steer manure to mix into the top few inches of soil, and use some small wood chips or Kellogg's All Natural Garden Soil (3cu ft.) as mulch.
What soil should I fill raised beds with? ›
A general potting mixture of three parts organic matter (such as garden compost, leafmould or well-rotted manure), two parts sharp sand and seven parts topsoil is sufficient for most raised beds.
Can I use raised bed soil in containers? ›
Potting Mix is formulated to feed the soil for plants growing in indoor and outdoor containers, while Raised Bed Soil with its slightly larger particle size, has versatile uses for both larger containers and raised bed gardening.
What is the best bagged soil for container vegetable garden? ›
Use Premium Potting Soil
These mixes, like Miracle-Gro® Potting Soil, contain the right blend of materials like coir, peat moss and/or compost to create an ideal growing environment for roots inside a pot. Potting mixes don't compact, but instead provide good drainage and air flow.
Should I use potting soil for container gardening? ›
Using good potting soil is a simple way to get your outdoor container gardens off to a great start. Quality potting soil will help your container plants thrive.
How to fill a raised garden bed cheaply? ›
Use the Lasagna Garden Method
To start, lay down sheets of cardboard or newspaper for weed suppression and then fill the raised bed structure halfway up with alternating layers of nitrogen-rich materials (like kitchen scraps and grass clippings) and carbon-rich materials (like wood chips and dried autumn leaves).
Can I use topsoil in a raised bed? ›
Filling Raised Beds
We fill our beds with half compost and half topsoil. It's economical, the soil gives the plants' roots something to hold onto, and the compost feeds the plants.
How much potting soil do I need for a 4x8 raised bed? ›
If you're planning a 12-inch deep raised bed, you'll need approximately 24 cubic feet of soil to fill a 4x8 bed. A depth of 18 inches will require approximately 36 cubic feet of soil.
Should I put anything in the bottom of my planter? ›
One of the best things to put at the bottom of a planter for drainage is broken pieces of pot. You can use any unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery for this – simply smash them up into small to medium-sized pieces. Adding a layer of broken pieces of pot like this will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes.
Raised bed soil is nutrient rich and contains a higher percentage of organic material than garden soil. However, you should also add additional organic fertilizer throughout the growing season to ensure a productive harvest. Organic and natural fertilizers include compost, algae and worms.
How do you prepare soil for raised beds? ›
Remove all rocks, old roots, and plant debris. Dig down a little further with the shovel (a few more inches) to just loosen up the soil. Mix the soil with organic matter such as compost. We recommend that the compost make up about 25% of your soil.
Can I use Miracle Gro garden soil in containers? ›
Soil taken from your yard or a garden bed is too dense to use in a pot or raised bed. Instead, for containers, you'll want to use potting mix (also called potting soil), a lightweight and fluffy alternative. For raised beds, you'll want to use a blend of potting mix and garden soil.
What is the best potting mix for raised beds? ›
The Best Raised Bed Soil Blend
Add roughly a 50/50 blend of compost (bulk and/or homemade) and topsoil (bulk and/or bagged).
Can I use bagged topsoil for potted plants? ›
Yes, you can mix the two if you'd like to use topsoil for your container plants or raised beds. Mixing them will enhance the topsoil's structure, making it more viable for potted plants.
What is the best soil mix for potted plants? ›
Most gardeners make potting soil by combining perlite or vemiculite with peat or sphagnum moss. Two other organic materials that you could add to your potting mix are leaf mold and compost, which offer a wide spectrum of nutrients.
Can I use bagged garden soil in pots? ›
Don't use it in containers. Since it doesn't have vermiculite, perlite or pumice, it lacks the drainage required for containers. Garden soil won't let plant roots breathe.
What is the difference between potting soil and container mix? ›
Both potting mix and potting soil have their unique strengths—potting mix is great for providing superior drainage, while potting soil is nutrient-rich due to its composition, for instance. Here's when to use each growing medium.
What kind of soil do you use for vegetable garden pots? ›
Use Premium Potting Soil
Potting mixes aren't as dense as garden soil, and provide good drainage and air flow. Another great option is Miracle-Gro® Moisture Control® Potting Mix, which helps protect plants against over- and under-watering.
