Knowledgebase
What kind of soil to use in ground vs. beds #751678
Asked May 24, 2021, 12:27 AM EDT
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Acquiring and maintaining good soil quality requires constant care and upkeep just like the plants you place into it.
If you are planning to plant in the ground, replacing the original soil would be labor intensive. If this is a first-time garden, add 3-4 inches of compost, or other organic matter, and any other amendments, such as fertilizer, and mix them into the top 8 to 12 inches of your present soil. This will help improve your soil and make it a more suitable space for your plants. These two links to OSU publications have information about using organic matter to improve your present soil.
Improving Garden Soils with Organic Matter
How to Use Compost in Gardens and Landscapes
If you are using raised beds, unless you dug out soil to install them, it is best to fill them with potting soil from a landscaping supply store. If you have soil you dug out, you can use the method above for in-ground soil and add it to your beds. If you choose to use a potting soil instead, whether you use a “specialty” one mainly depends on whether you want to add your own fertilizer and other amendments. That would be a choice that you need to make. With the depth of your 4 x 8 bed, it is also suggested you dig the potting soil into the top 6 inches of the soil your bed is resting on. The roots of your plants will appreciate it. For more information, see this link on Raised Bed Gardening.
Container gardens, even in a large tank, can use the same type of soil (from a landscaping supply store) used in your raised beds. You might want to think about adding perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage, in that case, you might pick a soil (from a landscaping supply store) that is made for container planting. Those soils will already include perlite or vermiculite. Additional container gardening information is included in the following links.
No Room for Vegetables? Pot Up Your Plants
As you can see there is no one soil fits all the settings in your garden. Although you can use one type, you may need to add to it to make it the best soil for each situation. Also remember each year you will need to continue to add organic matter, ½ to 1 inch, and other amendments as needed. If you want more information on what the composition of your soil is, you might what to consider a soil test. Here is another great publication on soil testing How do I test my garden soil?.