If you have raised beds in your garden or plan to start using them, you must choose the best soil for growing healthy vegetables and achieving a maximum harvest.
One of the benefits of using raised beds is that you can place them wherever is suitable for your plants.
They go above ground, so you can be sure your plants are protected from rodents, and you won’t have any issues with stubborn grass.
Moreover, choosing the right soil will be beneficial if you live on a property with low-quality soil that is hard-packed, full of roots, and contaminated with hazardous pollutants.
There are various types of soil for raised bed gardens available for sale online.
To make things easier for you, we’ve composed a detailed list of the best soil for raised garden beds, which you might find useful when choosing the right one.
Read on below to get all the info you’ll need.
Top Pick
Our top pick is definitely the Ocean Forest Soil Mix by Fox Farm.
One of the best things about this mix is that it’s ready to be used right out of the bag, and its adjusted pH will create a healthy growing environment for your plants.
The packaging includes protective gloves, allowing you to start planting as soon as the product is delivered.
Budget Pick
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, then the Michigen Peat Baccto soil is a great choice. It’s a lightweight mixture of sphagnum peat and other quality materials.
Moreover, it comes with a fertilizer package with starter and slow-release fertilizers, so you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth with this purchase.
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How Much Soil is Needed for a Raised Bed Garden?
Raised bed gardens will give you an instant advantage because you can choose the quality of the soil you want to use.
This comes especially handy when the soil in your yard isn’t good. It’s essential to have quality soil for a fertile garden.
Soil rich in nutrients will allow your roots to grow freely, and you can be certain that they’ll receive the needed amount of water.
The quantity of soil you’ll need really depends on the size and depth of your raised bed garden.
You can also reuse your planting soil, and if the soil levels in your garden start to decline, you can replenish them.
Moreover, the best raised bed soil recipe will help you plan the amount of soil you’ll need.
For instance, if you plan to create a 4×8-foot garden bed, you’ll need approximately 20 cubic feet of soil mixture.
What’s the Best Soil Mixture?
As we mentioned several times in the article, it’s essential to use high-quality soil to achieve the best results and cultivate a healthy garden.
When creating a soil mixture for your raised garden beds, be sure to avoid using the top layer of soil from your yard.
By doing this, you’ll avoid grass and weed contamination.
Further, you can mix your topsoil with equal parts of screened compost.
The most important thing is to provide your plants with the necessary nutrients.
Ensure the soil contains nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and sulfur.
Don’t just rush into planting with whatever you find on hand.
Take your time and be smart when creating your raised bed garden, so all your efforts won’t go to waste.
How to Prepare the Soil?
As soon as you decide on what to plant in your raised garden, it’s time to prepare the land.
Furthermore, you should be aware that no soil is immediately ready for planting, and all soils require some preparation.
Even if you use garden beds and create a separate area for your plants, be aware that they can still reach the soil under the raised bed.
This means you’ll have to prepare the soil, and sound advice is to dig at least 2 feet deep to remove any grass.
Additionally, you can add fertilizer and remove any leftover rocks or roots. Once you have your raised garden bed ready, add the needed soil and fertilizers.
Soil for Raised Garden Beds Review
1. FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Mix
Highlighted Features
- Ready to use immediately
- Lightweight & aerated
- Adjusted pH
- Good for indoor and outdoor plants
- Protective gloves are included
You’ll be amazed by the quality of this organic soil mix. No preparation is needed, as the soil can be used right away, ensuring your plants receive the perfect environment for optimal growth.
Moreover, the soil mix is well-aerated and specifically formulated to meet the needs of your plants. Additionally, this mix combines all the best elements from the earth and the sea, providing everything in one convenient package.
One of the greatest benefits is that the pH is adjusted to a range of 6.3 to 6.8, which in turn allows the soil to absorb the necessary amount of fertilizer.
This will create a perfect environment for your strong and vital plants.
Satisfied users confirm that it’s super soil, filled with micronutrients and other beneficial elements that are good for your garden.
It’s 100% organic, and it will help you grow your plants better than any other option you’ve used.
2. Miracle-Gro Expand ‘n Gro Planting Mix
Highlighted Features
- Can be used in containers or in-ground
- Grows up to 3x bigger plants
- Holds up to 50% more water
- Lightweight
- Great shipping options
This is a great concentrated planting mix, which is a good substitute for potting mix or garden soil. What’s more, it can be used both in-ground and in raised bed planting.
Once you add water to the mix, the soil will expand up to 3 times, and it’ll feed your plants for up to 6 months.
Since it’s able to hold up to 50% more water than ordinary soil, the roots of your plants will receive 90% more air and the necessary space for optimal growth.
The soil contains coir fibers, which’ll make the roots even happier.
If you struggle with dying plants, rest assured that this soil mix will revive them in no time, as soon as you repot them.
The super-light packaging makes it extremely easy to use, move around your garden, and it won’t cause too much strain on your back.
Just follow the instructions on the bag and never worry about your garden’s health anymore.
3. Black Gold All Organic Potting Soil
Highlighted Features
- Perfect for all container-grown plants
- Enriched with organic fertilizer
- Listed as organic by OMRI
- Can be used in pots and raised beds
- 16-quart bag
All enthusiastic gardeners are aware of how hard it is to buy good soil these days.
Nevertheless, we can confirm that Black Gold offers a real deal with this product.
It’s an amazing soil mix that can grow almost anything. Whether you need to plant your vegetables or flowers, you’ve found the right purchase.
The package doesn’t contain any insect eggs or bugs, so you can be certain your plants won’t be harmed in any way.
You’ll absolutely love working with this mix, as it’s fluffy, light, and the fact that it’s organic adds even more value.
Furthermore, the soil doesn’t have any issues with mold or gnats; it drains well and maintains the ideal amount of water, which makes a significant difference for your plants.
Moreover, satisfied customers who have been using the soil for years confirm that its quality has consistently been better than that of similar products on the market.
4. Organic Plant Magic Garden & Plant Soil
Highlighted Features
- Organic & Biodegradable
- Fast hydration
- Expands up to 7 times when mixed with water
- 100% natural ground coconut coir
- Perfect for raised beds
Organic Plant Magic offers this amazing, lightweight compressed potting soil, which expands up to seven times once water is added.
Furthermore, this small bag will provide significant value, as you’ll be using it for months to come.
Because it’s small, it won’t take up too much storage space, and it requires less watering than other regular soils, as it holds up to 50% more water.
Regardless of whether you’re an experienced gardener or an amateur, this soil is easy to use, and you’ll get around really quickly.
It consists of 100% natural, ground coconut coir, creating an environment that nourishes and provides essential oxygen for healthy root growth.
You can use it on its own or mix it with regular garden dirt.
Lastly, it works great for any vegetables, flowers, or plants, and is perfect for use in raised beds, containers, or pots.
You can be certain you’ll be getting your money’s worth with this amazing product.
5. Peat Soil Pellets by Jiffy
Highlighted Features
- Allows free root development
- Easy to use
- Low volume is good for storage
- High quality
- Lightweight
If you’re looking to create a good environment for your new seeds, these soil pellets are the ideal purchase. They’re compact and small, making them easy to store away.
As soon as you add water, you’ll see how they expand into nicely sized starters.
A piece of advice from experienced users is to remove the exterior mesh netting before placing them in the raised bed or pot, as this may entrap the roots of your new plants.
The soil pod will keep its shape even after you remove the mesh, so this won’t cause any issues.
Furthermore, you can use them with different varieties of vegetables, flowers, and herbs, and your tomato garden will flourish like never before.
According to enthusiastic gardeners, these pellets offer great value.
One of the best things about them is that you can start the plants from seeds.
Once they start sprouting, you can easily remove them without worrying about transplant shock.
6. Espoma Organic Soil
Highlighted Features
- Organic and natural
- Premium quality blend
- Enhanced with Myco-tone
- Contains sphagnum peat moss and humus
- Good value for money
As soon as you start using the Espoma organic soil, you’ll notice the difference in your plants when compared with the ones where you used other soil.
According to content gardeners, it’s an awesome product.
What’s more, unlike other soils that are mixed with too much mulch, this one is genuine dirt.
If you have some dying plants in your garden and want to revitalize them, this is the right product for you.
Since it contains myco-tone, sphagnum peat moss, and peat humus, your plants will get enough nutrients, and you’ll start seeing the difference in no time.
It’s ideal for raised growing beds and is suitable for cultivation in areas that receive limited sunlight.
It might not be the cheapest option you can find, but it’s definitely worth the investment if you want to see your raised bed garden thriving in no time.
If you’re looking for the real deal, you’ve found the right one.
7. Michigan Peat Baccto Lite Premium Potting Soil
Highlighted Features
- Premium potting soil
- Lightweight packaging
- Includes a fertilizer package
- Can be used immediately
- Ideal for outdoor plants
The lightweight package of Michigan Peat’s Bacctosoil contains a pre-moistened sphagnum mulch as well as other quality materials.
Moreover, it comes with a fertilizer package that contains starter and slow-release fertilizers.
The great thing about it is that it doesn’t require any preparation and can be used right out of the bag.
If you’re a green thumb enthusiast, you’ll enjoy watching your plants flourish with the help of this soil. It’s perfect for both indoor and outdoor raised bed plants, vegetables, or flowers.
Further, your garden deserves the best care and nourishment, and you can be certain this soil will give you all of that.
The greatest thing about this product is that it comes at a remarkably affordable price, making it a great investment for your beautiful garden.
8. Miracle-Gro Raised Bed Soil
Highlighted Features
- Improves plant growth
- 100% organic mix
- Suitable for fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers
- Improves drainage in raised bed gardening
- Soil and mulch are certified
This specially blended soil is ideal for raised garden beds, and it doesn’t require mixing before use.
If you’re set on creating your beautiful garden, then you’ve found the right product to do this.
With the help of this soil mix, you’ll be able to grow more bountiful and bigger plants.
Moreover, this soil is ideal for use in raised bed gardens, and it’ll be the perfect foundation your plants need to thrive.
The soil is really easy to use. Add it to your raised bed garden and watch your vegetables, flowers, and herbs flourish with the beneficial nutrients from the soil.
According to users, this soil increases the growth rate of the seedlings and creates healthy, robust vegetables which are ready to harvest weeks before schedule.
When compared to expensive store-bought soil, this one gives much more value. Additionally, the bags are sized at 1.5 cubic feet of soil capacity.
9. Wonder Soil Premium Expanding Soil Sheets
Highlighted Features
- Filled with nutrients
- Good for indoor and outdoor use
- Good water retention and drainage
- Easy to use
- Fast germination
What an amazing product by Wonder Soil! It’s perfect for your entire garden and for your raised garden beds.
The soil provides fast draining and promotes aeration, which in turn improves the healthy growth of your roots.
Moreover, it’s user-friendly even if you’re not an experienced gardener. All you need to do is add water.
The wonder soil is a 100% compressed coco coir mix, and it’ll expand up to 7 times once you add water.
Furthermore, you’ll never have to worry if your plants are getting enough nutrients. This soil contains worm casting, mycorrhizae, kelp, and other ingredients that improve your plant growth.
It has a neutral pH, low salt levels, and is entirely sterile and free of bacteria and fungus, which can damage your plants.
Last but not least, this is not only good soil, but it’s also easy, fun, and interesting to use.
10. Dr. Earth All-Purpose Compost
Highlighted Features
- Appropriate for different plants
- Rich in nutrients
- 100 % organic
- Handcrafted blend
- Good for improving soil texture
If you’ve started building your raised bed garden, then Dr. Earth’s natural compost mix is just what you need.
It’ll create the perfect soil conditions to improve plant health and promote optimum growth.
Additionally, it can be used for different garden projects such as planting trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables.
Due to the organic nutrients it contains, such as green-fed earthworm castings and alfalfa meal fertilizer, among others, this compost provides an ideal environment for your plants to flourish.
Although this product has a higher price, you can be sure it’s worth it.
Some of the cheaper options sold online cannot compare to Dr. Earth’s value, which is immediately evident from its dark, rich, and fluffy compost.
Your garden will flourish in no time, and you’ll make this your regular purchase.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, we’d like to emphasize that selecting the right soil for your plants is crucial, particularly when creating a raised bed garden.
Regardless of whether you’re an experienced gardener or an amateur who’s just starting to learn, you must be aware of the soil you use in order to get healthy plants and maximum growth.
If you have difficulty choosing which soil to use, we’re happy to help.
If you want to invest in your raised bed garden, we’d definitely recommend our top pick, Ocean Forest Soil Mix by Fox Farm.
It has the ideal pH level and will provide your plants with the needed nutrients.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Baccto Lite Premium Soil by Michigan Peat is ideal for you.
It’s lightweight, and it comes with a fertilizer package. Rest assured, you’re getting your money’s worth and providing quality soil for healthy plants.
Happy gardening!