Q.Making soil for raised beds
This fall I constructed two square 6′ by 6′ raised beds with some leftover wood. I filled the beds with mulched leaves (oak and maple) and added some nitrogen fertilizer to aid in decomposition. I’ve been tilling the beds with a pitch fork every few weeks through this unseasonably warm Connecticut winter. Am I off to a good start in making soil?
A compost pile needs a balance of 'brown' and 'green' material in order for the material to break down.
Adding nitrogen fertilizer is not beneficial to breaking down material such as the leaves, in fact to much nitrogen can be very detrimental to the garden.
Raised beds are a great way to garden. I would recommend starting with some commercial soil or adding some organic material to existing soil.
I'm listing several links to help you get started.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/composting-leaves.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/understanding-nitrogen-requirements-for-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/too-much-nitrogen-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-vegetable-gardens.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/compost-for-organic-gardens.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/vegetable-garden-soil.htm
