Raised Beds - to compress or not ?

[riomar_bob]

I have just built some raised beds and have filled them with topsoil from a supplier - my question is having filled the raised beds with the top soil should I firm the soil down? The soil was moved from the 1meter bags by wheelbarrow and was just tipped into the beds. Also how long should I leave the soil before I can start to use it ?

[john boy]

I will be very interested in any answers you get on this one.Iv made raised beds for this year ,the idea is not to walk on them,but some veg ie sprouts leeks and the likes need firm ground. sorry i could`nt help

[carlseawolf]

I would leave it be, because the point of raised beds is you don't walk on them and compress the soil .
The only exception would be brassicas that need compacted soil to grow.

[Mr Bean]

My raised beds are 14ft by 18ft, so I have to tread on them . You could say its a raised garden .