Cross post
 

I got my soil yesterday for my beds, My question is this. DO I put the soil in level to the bed height or mound it to allow for shrinkage? They are calling for rain all day This coming SAT. Thanks in advance Beale.

If I have enough material, I mound them up a bit to account for settling.

I think you would be OK with either method. Depends on how much soil you have.

Lee

Right now?I am worried about running out of soil. Heck I dropped $200.00 as it is, Beale.

Do you have access to any free material, like manure, spoiled hay, etc. that you could layer in the bottom of the beds and then top with a few inches of the soil? A bit like the lasagne gardening method, only with more soil on the top.

Kath's idea is a very good one. The worms will love all of that organic stuff
and as it decays, they will mix it into the soil for you.

If you've already filled a bed, do you think this would help:

Don't worry about the soil level too much; in the spot where you want to plant a tomato plant, dig down below your soil, dig into the original ground, mix with your new soil and then plant into this hole. Then, over the summer, add mulch like grass clippings, etc. In the fall, add on top leaves and the stuff Kath mentions. You could also plant your tomato plant in more of a trench rather
than planting it straight down. I guess some of this will depend on how tall
your plants are when you receive them.

I'm glad you're thinking about all of this before you get your plants.