Gardeners, whats the right mix to fill a planter?

[rcx132]

I'm just finishing my planter, attaching pic, I still haven't put the concrete boards in at the back.
I was planning to fill with rubble from my neighbours building works and soil on top but someone suggested that rubble will mess up the soil pH and stop roots setting in deep. I'm ok to order some 1m cubic bags, but what mix should I use? I was thinking stones at the bottom, and sand top soil mix at the top?

 

[zx9]

I'm just finishing my planter, attaching pic, I still haven't put the concrete boards in at the back.
I was planning to fill with rubble from my neighbours building works and soil on top but someone suggested that rubble will mess up the soil PH and stop roots setting in deep. I'm ok to order some 1m cubic bags, but what mis should I use? I was thinking naturel stones at the bottom, and sand top soil mix at the top?

Do you know what is going to be planted in the planter? Different plants need different soils, ph, drainage to grow at their best.

 

[rcx132]

Do you know what is going to be planted in the planter? Different plants need different soils, ph, drainage to grow at their best.

That's my wife's department, I just build the thing. She's talking about veg, I'm suggesting flowers and maybe veg at the far end out of sight. I doubt she has a plan. Is there some universal mix I should look at?

 

[Wildefalcon]

Plants. The green things, not the useful sort. And shrubs.

 

[8ob]

That’s a deep planter, I wouldn’t go too mad with the drainage, a few inches of gravel through the bottom with some membrane on top, then fill to within six inches of the finished level with as dug soil ( cheap) then top off with something decent.

Bob

 

[Gragson]

Mrs made a herb planter couple weeks back out of an old bunk bed, did a good job but waaay too deep IMHO, I daren't say as she was chuffed with the effort. Bigger than it looks, 5' long, she used garden spoil for the first foot depth then compost. The shed behind is being replaced in 3 months and she has threatened to make some more out of that.

I like your finished planter, I have a bunch of spare sleepers so think I will copy to do the same along a boring fence bit

 

[Rays]

Google 'hugelkultur' - that is an old method that uses old wood, branches, leaves etc under the soil layer and can be adapted to raised beds.
I tried it on some raised veggie beds and got very good results and will reduce the amount of soil you need to add initially.

 

[Wildefalcon]

One idea is to fill the base with upright plastic bottles with the top cut off, they fill with water which means you don't have to spend valuable workshop time watering the darn thing.

 

[zx9]

That’s a deep planter, I wouldn’t go too mad with the drainage, a few inches of gravel through the bottom with some membrane on top, then fill to within six inches of the finished level with as dug soil ( cheap) then top off with something decent.

Bob

If it is just 'plants' then as per 8ob ^^^^^^ if you want to fill up depth you could even use broken up polystyrene packaging instead of rubble , garden soil or bagged top soil for the bulk of it and topped off with a layer of soil with well rotted compost / used grow bags / rotted horse muck mixed in.
While you are at it, best make her a decent size compost bin to rot down the vegie peelings, tea bags last years plants etc. Saves buying compost and reduces waste in the food recycle bin but don't put meat, fat or bones in it.

Edit: I've only just now seen the picture, wow it is deep!!

 

[pedrobedro]

vegie peelings, tea bags last years plants etc.

Unless they are specified as recyclable a lot of tea bags don't rot down as they use polypropylene to seal the bags.

 

[zx9]

Unless they are specified as recyclable a lot of tea bags don't rot down as they use polypropylene to seal the bags.

I know, but it is not too difficult to deal with the plastic after the tea and paper content has rotted out, just a case of picking them up when they emerge from the compost. Face it there is more harmful plastic and glass in most compost sold as John Innes these days.