- Filling Raised Garden Beds -
I filled these beds with some of the best soil I could buy in my area. I calculated how much I would need to fill the beds, had it delivered, and hauled it all in with a shovel and Gorilla cart.
Soil Delivery
I highly recommend opting for delivery if you are getting 3+ cu yards of soil(5 in my case).
Lay down a tarp for the soil to be dumped on. This makes keeping it centered in the pile easier by pulling up on the tarp and shifting the soil. Gives you protection from the wind for overnight storage, in case you need more than a day to move it.
Makes clean up a whole lot easier as you can just pick up the remaining soil.
Tools
- Transfer Shovel
- Rake
- Cart or wheebarrow
- I opted for a 1200lbs capacity Gorilla Cart and highly recommended it. It makes dumping easier and the capacity is just right for one person to move an efficient amount of soil per trip.
Prepare Ground
- I drilled some holes to break up the soil for drainage using a rotary hammer with a chisel bit
- Drillled about 3-4 inches deep every 3-4 inches across the length and width of the bed
Prepare Ground
- I drilled some holes to break up the soil for drainage using a rotary hammer with a chisel bit
- Drillled about 3-4 inches deep every 3-4 inches across the length and width of the bed
Load Cart with Soil
I filled the cart just slightly above the borders with the center piled up.
One full load was just enough weight for me to handle alone. I also had to account for a slope to make it up in my front yard.
Used a square transfer shovel. Be careful not to rip the tarp if you are shoveling near the base of the pile.
Dump Load
The Gorilla cart made this so much easier with its dumping feature.
I left a gap open in my cinder blocks to accommodate for the Gorilla cart .
When I dumped the soil I would then rake the soil away from the dumping area to make space for the next load.
Level the Soil
I closed up the bed by adding the missing cinder blocks
Raked the soil towards the middle on both ends to level it out
Topped off soil as needed
I left 2-3 inches of space from the top of the ned as I still have amendments and mulch to add
Summary
It took roughly 30 loads in the Gorilla Cart to move 5 cu yards of soil
I spent a leisurely 8 hours to move all the soil/fill the beds on my own
Gardening
Building Beds
DIY
