The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: escapedtothecountry on March 23, 2013, 06:48:43 pm

Title: Top soil!
Post by: escapedtothecountry on March 23, 2013, 06:48:43 pm

Crikey! How much does topsoil cost!!


We were lucky when we moved into our place as there was a great big pile of well rotted manure. I made 5 raised beds (squares made of 4 railway sleepers) and having filled them solely with the well rotted manure everything has seemed to like them from dahlias; courgettes; beans; nasturtiums.


Then we had some building work and told the builders we wanted to keep all the soil that come out of the foundations. That meant we could fill 4 raised beds (rectangles made out of 6 full size railway sleepers) for free.


Now we need to order a bit of topsoil to do some planting around our new decking and it will take 8 tonnes I reckon........ and will cost £40+ a bad. Crikey!


Think I need to find a ready supply of well rotted manure!

Title: Re: Top soil!
Post by: bloomer on March 23, 2013, 06:56:05 pm

shop around


i pay £20 a ton loose or £25 a bag (a bag is less than a ton) i actually prefer it loose easier to shovel assuming you have somewhere it can be tipped!!!

Title: Re: Top soil!
Post by: escapedtothecountry on March 23, 2013, 06:57:55 pm

Sounds a much better deal than I can seemingly get.


Its a bit like some of the gardening programmes on tv that talk about spent mushroom compost.... and how they get through 20 tonnes of the stuf. I could easily use that - but getting something like that delivered (still not found anyone reasonable) seems to cost a small fortune!

Title: Re: Top soil!
Post by: bloomer on March 23, 2013, 06:59:07 pm

whereabouts in the country are you?

Title: Re: Top soil!
Post by: escapedtothecountry on March 23, 2013, 07:01:53 pm

Lincolnshire

Title: Re: Top soil!
Post by: bloomer on March 23, 2013, 07:26:48 pm

wow


i haven't purchased any since last april and apparently prices have gone up


for bulk fill its worth talking to skip companies for screened topsoil as filler


and then adding some organic matter (well rotted manure should be free from farms if you can collect)


even my favourite supplier in warwickshire (i don't live there now but used to buy lots) which is a better comparison than scotland is over £30 a ton collected and thats the trade price...


good luck

Title: Re: Top soil!
Post by: escapedtothecountry on March 23, 2013, 07:36:18 pm

It's probably delivery prices that have added to the cost as much as anything else

Title: Re: Top soil!
Post by: Clarebelle on March 23, 2013, 07:49:20 pm

if you have used well rotted manure before could you maybe speak to some local stables to see if they have any you could just take off them? Theres usually loads of people on preloved etc trying to get rid of piles of manure and its usually free!  :thumbsup: