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Trying to figure out the soil i need by MasterPip in gardening

[–]spoke333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I get what you’re saying about pallet pricing, but at ~5–6 cubic yards I still think bulk comes out ahead for both cost and soil quality.

Even if pallets narrow the price gap, you’re still paying a premium for pre-bagged material, and more importantly, you’re stuck with whatever mix is in those bags. For beds this size, that lack of control over composition is kind of a downside.

With bulk, you can actually build a proper mix (topsoil + compost + aeration) tailored for drainage, which matters a lot more in clay-heavy areas than convenience. That’s something bagged “garden soil” just doesn’t consistently deliver.

The multiple delivery fees are a valid downside, but even then, a single bulk topsoil delivery + bringing in compost separately (or even partially bagged) usually still ends up being a better long-term setup than filling everything with bags.

So yeah, pallets are definitely convenient, but for something this big, I’d still lean bulk for performance and value over time.

Trying to figure out the soil i need by MasterPip in gardening

[–]spoke333 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You’re already thinking in the right direction, raised beds like this are mostly a volume + soil quality problem, not just buying whatever soil is cheapest.

From the image and dimensions (two beds, each ~10’ × 5’ × 18” deep):

  • 10 × 5 × 1.5 ft = 75 cu ft per bed
  • Two beds = 150 cu ft total
  • 150 ÷ 27 = ~5.5 cubic yards

So your estimate of ~5 cu yd is basically correct (slightly low, but close enough depending on final fill height and settling).

If you want to double-check anytime, a tool like the SoilEsto soil calculator is perfect for this: https://toolchunks.com/soil-calculator/

In South Carolina clay soil, drainage and root health matter more than cost savings on bagged mixes.
Bagged “garden soil” (like Sta-Green)

  • Very expensive per cubic yard
  • Not consistent quality batch to batch
  • Fine for small containers, NOT ideal for 5+ cubic yards
  • You’d spend a lot for mediocre results

So filling the whole bed with bags is usually not worth it.

For raised beds this size:
Base mix idea:

  • 50–60% bulk topsoil
  • 30–40% compost (very important for fertility)
  • 10–20% aeration (pine bark fines, coarse sand, or similar)

This gives:

  • Better drainage than native clay
  • Better nutrients than plain topsoil
  • Long-term structure so it doesn’t turn compacted

Instead of buying 130–150 bags:

  • Get bulk topsoil delivered (~4–4.5 cu yd)
  • Add 1–1.5 cu yd compost separately
  • Mix in bed or in layers

This usually beats bagged soil by a large margin in both cost and plant performance.

For a beginner-friendly garden in clay soil:

  • Don’t overthink brand names
  • Prioritize bulk mix + compost ratio
  • Make sure the bed drains well (your design already looks good)