Brick built flower beds

i have just built 2 foot high brick flower beds the soil at the bottom is good quality but stoney, thought this would be good for drainage i was going to fill it with compost and top soil, but top soil seems quite expensive for the amount i need any idea on where to get cheep topsoil, and if this sounds like a good combination?

Thanks,

 

Mikey, how long and how wide are the beds? David.

 

there are three around two metres and under long each, and they go back about two and a half feet,

any ideas?

 

Hi Mikey, I have to confess that I always mix my compost with soil and it doesn't seem to bother the plants. I also mix in chicken manure at the same time. Where you an get cheap topsoil though I can't help. I don't know what anyone else thinks but would ordinary soil mixed in with leaf mould work as well? Isn't that what topsoil is any way? Probably totally wrong let me know.

 

1 tonne of screened top soil should be about �£42, although most places only do free delivery on 2 tonnes. It is pretty easy to lose this around the garden and it sounds like the beds are quite big. I mix in top soil, compost, sand, pea shingle, chicken pellets and mini bark.

 

I was chatting with a work colleague yesterday about top soil. He's an old chap (the gardener at work) so knows a thing or two. He mentioned that it is possible to get it free if you can find a site where building/ excavation is going on. ..and are cheeky enough to ask..it may not be top grade but compost etc could be added. If you were lucky enough to find any though you'd have to move it yourself!!