Where to buy high-quality compost for raised beds?

13 years ago

I'm in Orange County, CA (Irvine Area) and would like to have some new compost for my raised vegetable beds(I have about 7). In the past I've used bags from Lowes, but haven't been too impressed by the amount of rocks, metal and other debris in with the compost. Is there a place to get high-quality compost in my area? Organic is preferable too. I don't have a truck, so it would have to be delivered to my house. I have plans for my own compost pile, but until then... any ideas would be appreciated!

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Comments (13)

goren
13 years ago
Don't believe everything you've heard about compost being the zenith of soils for everything----it isn't.
Consult a good source of information about which vegetables you are contemplating growing and then find out what kind of soil it prefers.

Most vegetables prefer a slightly acidic soil pH within the range of 6.0-7.0. If the soil is too acidic or alkaline, certain nutrients become unavailable to the plant and poor growth or death of the plant results.
Giving 'hot' compost, much like amending soil with manures, to some vegetables can be like giving them a death sentence. If we assume that compost has a degree of nitrogen that might not be good for a plant, then we should avoid making the soil so rich.
Often the soil you have is quite nice for growing vegetables and doesn't need a high degree of enrichment.

As far as buying compost, your local full service nursery should be able to help you. Live near a highway that leads to farm country?....Farmers usually will put out at roadside offerings of sheep or cattle manure--well aged--to passing motorists.
nancyjeanmc
13 years ago
People pay for compost??? ;)
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Crystalshoe- Hydrology, not the size of the bed or container, determines whether you're growing in a raised bed (RB) or a container, and by extension, what type of soil you can/should use. A planting of daisies in a plastic or clay pot resting on your deck or patio is a container planting. Bury that pot an inch or two into the ground so there is continuity between the medium in the pot and the soil the pot is partially buried in, and it becomes a RB - no matter what size the pot is. The difference is, the earth will act as a giant wick, and remove water that would normally perch in a conventional container planting, but water movement within the partially buried container would closely mimic water movement in the earth or in the soil below. There is a caveat, however. The area where the pot is buried or partially buried would need to drain properly for things to work. If you were to bury the pot in clay soil that allowed essentially no percolation, the pot would simply fill up with water at every rainfall or irrigating. If you're building a RB over a clay soil that drains poorly - don't amend the clay unless you can drain the area. If you do, water will percolate or run into the area you amended, leaving it saturated for extended periods (the bathtub effect). You can remedy this problem if you are able to cut trenches or use a French drain cut into the clay to drain excess water to a lower area away from where you're growing. Not amending the clay below your beds also allows any excess water in the RB soil to move laterally over the surface of the clay where it can evaporate. If you amend, the water won't move laterally until the amended depression is entirely saturated with water. No matter how you look at it, you're eventually going to have problems with a RB over clay unless you can figure a way to use gravity or a pump to move water from the area. As soil life moves through the clay and increases the OM content of the clay below the RBs, that soil will become more porous than the surrounding clay. The pores will quickly fill with water when it rains or when you irrigate unless you have a plan to remove the water. The end game is, the water that collects below your RBs has to have a place to go. It has to drain naturally in a reasonable time, or be directed downhill or to a sump where it can be mechanically removed. Amending the soil beneath RBs just forces you to face the brunt of the problem sooner (in heavy clay soils). BTW - you don't need to use a highly aerated soil like that you referred to in your OP in RBs. In fact, the highly aerated soils that perform so well in containers are probably not a particularly good choice for RBs because they have a steep water retention curve that will have you watering more than you'd prefer. Keep in mind that the time you spend now, properly preparing, will save a lot of time and frustration later. How many beds? Size/depth? Budget constraints high, low, medium? Ready access to materials you think might work? Al
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BEWARE!!! I called Hines FINE soils and asked what product they had for a large raised vegetable bed. I also asked if there were any rock in the soil. I was told that all of their soils were Top soil scraped from the top of fields and "finger " screened so only very small rock were in it. The soil had to be delivbered by another trucking Co. as I live outside the Hines delivery area. I purchased a full 14 cu. yds. of tghis soil that they said had partially digested cotton fiber in it. After recieving the soil andhaving it stock piled and covering it because of pending rain, I noticed the soil consisted of Small light orange Shale like clay chunks, medium orange clay, cotton fiber and numerous Flat round rocks aproximately 2 1/2" to 4" in diameter. This soil is totally void of nutrients and is obviously mined from subsoil. I have asked for compensation , but have not recieved any.
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theresa111
Original Author
13 years ago
We live in the middle of suburbia (southern California): it's all houses and schools and shopping centers. There's no farm down the road (LOL)! Yes, we pay for compost, nothing's FREE here! There are no FARMS anywhere near here! I'm the only person I know of that has a vegetable garden. Most people around here have pools in the backyard, not raised beds! So, I figure someone must know of somewhere I could locate some better soil/compost to put in my raised beds. I mean, it's alot of soil to just buy the bags... and like I said, I'm not that impressed with Lowe's or Home Depot's bagged stuff. And, maybe it's just soil that I need, not compost... our backyard soil had too much clay, so I can't use that... (I've tried, didn't work!)
theresa111
Original Author
13 years ago
Interesting about the acidic needs of veggies, something I will keep in mind!
Lloyd
13 years ago
I have no idea if this website works but if you want to try it...

Lloyd
nutsaboutflowers
13 years ago
You could check your phone book for local landscape suppliers or bobcat services.

They should either be able to supply you with soil already mixed with manure, or they should be able to direct you to someone who does.

For a fee you could also have it delivered.

Good luck!
CathyCA SoCal
13 years ago
Armstrong Garden Centers (in Irvine and throughout Southern California) carries E.B. Stone Organic Planting Compost. It can be found at other nurseries as well. Not cheap but I think it's good quality. Contains Composted Wood Shavings, Redwood Compost, Composted Chicken Manure, Mushroom Compost, Fir Bark, Bat Guano, Kelp Meal and Alfalfa Meal.
jonhughes
13 years ago
Hi Theresa111,
nutsaboutflowers has given you wonderful advice, I would do that (call a landscape supply company) they will be able to direct you to your best and most cost efficient options, too bad you are so far from Lloyd (Manitoba, Canada) he is our Master Composter, hopefully his link will work for you...
As far as Cathyca's advice, If I needed some high tech compost I might try what she mentioned (as least to top off my beds). VERY EXPENSIVE THOUGH , so it would definitely be only if I had fistfuls of money (which I do not), anyway get your compost bins going for next year ...OK ........ let us see some pics , to let us see how you are coming along...

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Here is a link that might be useful: Jon's Wonderful Garden 2010
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
13 years ago
If you need a quantity, you want to find a bulk soil product rather than bagged - bagged soils will run you at least 3-4 times the price regardless of quality. And you probably do not need all compost - a planting mix or some combo of soil with added organic matter is better than 100% compost for raised beds.

Don't let folks make you feel guilty about buying soil or compost. Not everyone has the luxury of time or space or ingredients or ability (or even community permission) to make their own compost or in the quantities required. And you cannot "make" soil so if you need to fill a bunch of raised beds, importing soil is the only reasonable alternative. Folks in very urban areas do it all the time and it is becoming more and more common in suburban locations, especially those with small lot sizes and crummy native soils.

Check this place out - they are throughout CA and look to have a decent product. They deliver themselves but only on large orders but they also supply various retail outlets. Call and see who might be available close to you. If THEY don't deliver, rent a pickup from uHaul or wherever or borrow a friend's.......it will still come out cheaper than buying umpteen bags. The Premium Planter Mix is what I'd go with............or you can do a part load of that and a part load of the compost. Check the analyses first :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: SoCal bulk soil supplier
daguvanuh
13 years ago
Here is one, Oh yeah... thats me....

No I am not trying to solicit on this site.....
This is the video I run on Craigslist for locals.

Here is a link that might be useful: Compost ad for Craigslist video
daguvanuh
13 years ago
An ad from Orange Co location on Craigslist has supossedly good quaility compost at $12 a cu yd. Delivery available it says also...

You may have some close and check the quaility.... Everything on C-list is NOT what is represented. Attached link

Here is a link that might be useful: Compost Link for Orange Co compost
vette1966
13 years ago
Guys,
I live in Kokomo, IN & I want to purchase 100 sq ft (100) 40# of the best composed soil available for my raised bed garden project.
I checked the big box stores & top soil is going for $1.50 / bag.
Horse manure & peat moss cost a $1.75 / bag.
I had a dump truck load of "good black" top soil deliver last fall & had to send it back because it was 80% clay.

Here are my questions:
1. What mixture of the above soil, manure & peat moss is the best for the garden?
2. Where can I purchase composed soil be delived to my home via truck?

Thanks!
Andy
BrianV
12 years ago
You could check this place out

Here is a link that might be useful: Serrano Creek Soils

Where to buy high-quality compost for raised beds?

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goren

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Where to buy high-quality compost for raised beds?

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