Mel’s Mix – The best soil for Raised Beds (& How to use them?)

Have you ever thought of using Mel’s mix for your raised beds? If yes, then you are going great but if not, then you should use it. One can get the best results from the raised beds if they are in proper soil. The quality of soil matters a lot when it comes to productivity. You might not be getting good results through your raised beds, so, no worries! In this guide, you will come to know about the best soil for raised beds and we will discuss Mel’s mix which is one of them. 

Quick takeaways:

  • Various gardeners know that Mel’s mix is a great option so you can go for it. If you are a beginner in your gardening field, then it is great to start with the raised beds and use Mel’s mix.
  • In this, your plant will get all the essential nutrients required for all the soil types with a proper drainage system. 
  • Raised beds are one of the best methods that are being used by gardeners nowadays. They have been using it for the last 20 years.
  • It is so that you can easily find the space for the raider’s beds like in your backyard, rooftops, etc. You can make it a beautiful lush garden.

But you can get distracted when it comes to choosing the best soil mixture for those plants. So, let’s start this guide to know about the best soil mixture for your raised beds. 

What is Mel’s Mix? 

It is better to understand something before applying it. It is a mixture of the soil types that are being used by the farmers to improve their gardening systems and use any gardening method known as square foot gardening.

The concept came into existence when a person wrote about it in a bestselling book. The name of the person is Mel Bartholomew. This is the reason the oil mixture is called Mel’s mix. Isn’t it amazing? Of course, it is. You should also try this. But before that, you need to know the various benefits of it. 

Mel’s mix is created by 3 ingredients that are composed in equal quantities such as 

  • Compost
  • Peats Moss 
  • Vermiculite

To know more about Mel’s mix you need to continue reading the article which will help you out.

Some of the benefits are: 

  • This oil mix gives the best drainage system as it drains the excess water from the soil so it won’t get over the water and the plant can not get spoiled. 
  • If you will use a good amount of compost, then if any weeds are there, you can easily remove them because of the lightness of the soil. 
  • In this mix, roots will spread even faster and also give healthy root systems. 
  • You can even bounce back the old used soil and even remove the plants that are dead so that you can reuse that mixture. 
  • This soil is lighter in comparison with others as it contains Vermiculite.

Best Types of Compost for Mel’s Mix

You should know about the best compost that you can use as it will help in more productivity and the raised beds. Some of the best types of compost for the men’s mix are:

1. Earthworm Castings

You can use them easily as they are very effective. But they come in a variety of expensive ones that can be bought by the gardener.

If you want this for free, then you have to make your worm box

2. Mushroom Compost

Another one is mushroom compost which is less used by gardeners. You can store them in a place where they do not stink.

And also it is kind of struggling to work with it. Your clothes can become dirty and they can give a foul smell. 

3. Chicken Manure Compost

If you are a beginner, then you should use this compost as it is cheap and can be afforded by anyone. It can be bought for about 3$ for a single bag

4. Cotton Burr Compost

This compost is very valuable if you want to add volume to your soil as it is good for weight. Gardeners use this type of compost most often and consider it the best. 

How can you Mix Mel’s Mix? 

You might be worrying about how to mix Mel’s mix, if yes, then you are at the right place. So, it is that easy the way you are thinking about it. So, what you need is a tarp and anyone who can help you. 

Then, you have to do: 

  • Firstly, you have to take the main components that are involved in the making of Mel’s mix, ie; peat moss, compost, and vermiculite. 
  • Then, put all these ingredients on the tarp behind your raised bed.
  • Now, you have to fold one side of it over toward the other side.
  • Then, you have to repeat it with the other side unless it mixes properly.

Are you worrying because you do not have the tarp? No worries! we are here. You can also use a baby pool for mixing them. You can take the help of any other person too as it will become easier for you to mix them all and then move them to the raised bed. 

Advantages of Mel’s mix:

The following are some advantages of Mel’s mix:

  • To provide the plant with the perfect amount of water it needs without overwatering or underwatering it then using Mel’s mix will help in retaining valuable moisture with excellent drainage.
  • Using mel mix in your plants will provide them with all the important nutrients and you don’t need to mix any fertilizer after that.
  • For using Mel’s mix you don’t need to dig the ground as after using the mixture it will lose the soil texture and make the plant root grow and expand. So it is easy to apply.
  • The ingredients used in Mel’s mix are in a ratio that you don’t need to mix any advanced horticulture; it will maintain the soil PH and nutrients of the soil.

Price of using Mel’s mix:

When we talk about the price of Mel’s mix the ingredients used for making the mix are more expensive if we compare it with the regular soil and compost. But spending here is worth it as the mel mix does stay loose for 7 to 10 years.

Hands after subtracting all the hard work of digging the ground expenses for buying the soil mixture air every year the price of using Mel’s mix is perfect. So to spend money for raising your plant you can start to use a perfectly balanced organic Garden soil named Mel’s mix

Concluding lines

In this guide, you come to know that various gardeners know that Mel’s mix is a great option so you can go for it. If you are a beginner in your gardening field, then it is great to start with the raised beds and use Mel’s mix. In this, your plant will get all the essential nutrients required for all the soil types with a proper drainage system.

Read the article carefully so that you understand that Mel’s mix is the best soil for the raised beds. 

FAQs

1. What is the best soil for raised bed gardening?

The best soil that you can use for raised bed gardening is Mel’s mix as it is not too dense nor too thin. It depicts that it is right for the raised beds.  Even for your vegetable garden, this soil mix is the best to use. 

2. How to build a successfully raised garden bed?

You can make a successful raised garden bed by investing in terms of soil. Soil is a very important component that you have to look after before starting to plant any plant. 

Does Mel’s Mix need fertilizer?

Mel’s mix is a blended compost which is everything that fulfills the plant’s needs so there is no need to add fertilizer in it.

Becky Decker

Becky Decker, our esteemed Editor-in-Chief, is a passionate gardener with years of experience in the world of horticulture. With her guidance, BonjourGreen.com aims to be your trusted companion on your gardening journey. Featured In   Becky Decker’s expertise and gardening wisdom have been recognized and featured in various prominent publications, including:   Homesandgardens.com Yahoo.com Urbansplatter.com Inkl.com Foliagefriend.com Yahoonews  Experience & Background   Becky Decker’s love for gardening has been a lifelong journey. She has honed her skills through countless seasons of planting, nurturing, and harvesting a wide variety of plants, flowers, and vegetables. Her deep-rooted knowledge is complemented by her Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from the University of Green Valley.   Prior to leading BonjourGreen.com, Becky worked as a garden consultant, helping countless individuals turn their outdoor spaces into vibrant, thriving gardens. Her experience spans over a decade, making her a trusted authority in the gardening community.   The Birth of BonjourGreen.com   Inspired by her passion for gardening and her desire to share her expertise with a wider audience, Becky Decker launched BonjourGreen.com in 2021. This platform serves as a hub for gardening enthusiasts of all levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.   At BonjourGreen.com, we are committed to providing you with comprehensive guides, expert advice, and hands-on tips to help you achieve success in your gardening endeavors. Whether you have a small balcony garden or a sprawling backyard paradise, we have the information you need to make your garden flourish.   Our Mission   BonjourGreen.com is more than just a gardening website; it’s a community of gardeners who share a common love for nurturing the Earth. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and resources to create beautiful, sustainable gardens that bring joy and tranquility to your life.   Join Us on This Green Journey   We invite you to explore BonjourGreen.com and embark on your gardening journey with us. Whether you’re seeking advice on planting techniques, pest control, landscaping ideas, or the latest gardening trends, you’ll find it all right here.   Connect with us, ask questions, and share your gardening stories. Together, we’ll cultivate a thriving community of gardeners and help each other make the world a greener, more beautiful place.   Let’s dig in and grow together at BonjourGreen.com, where gardening dreams bloom!

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *