I need a source for soil/compost

I live in Los Angeles and am installing raised beds to grow vegetables. I have been unable to find a source for soils and compost in bulk. I know there must be a bunch of places I just can't figure out what to google. Does anyone have a recommendation for me? Thanks loads

Building material yards, landscaping material yards, and nurseries. Google or look in phone book for what businesses are local. Some will make deliveries depending upon the amount and location.
Hope that helps you a little.
Walk In Beauty!
SW

You might call my favorite local rockery and ask them who they might recommend in your area. I know they have contacts all over CA, and they've been just wonderful to work with.
http://siliconvalley.citysearch.com/profile/1109367/san_jose_ca/payless_hardware_rockery.html

How much bulk? Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, etc. have the big bags. Do you need more? If so, SingingWolf has given good sources if you're looking for truck- or trailer-sized loads.

I found a great place, thanks everyone

I get topsoil and ammendments in bulk from two different locations here in So. Cal.

1.) South Coast Supply
3626 E. Cerritos Ave.
Los Alamitos, Ca, (562) 596 - 6666

2.) Whittier Fertilizer Co.
www.whittierfertilizer.com
In Pico Rivera

Both will deliver or you can take your own truck for pick up.

Yeah for JD! He knew the answer!
WIB,
SW

Remember gang,

There's always, Compost Hill.....aka Mount Manure (named by maggiemoo)

be well,
don

I'll take it! LOL

Given the size of Mount Manure the last time I saw it, it's probably it's own RANGE by now !

I'll still take it! LOL

In my area, they are citing people for discing their manure into the ground. It is so sad. We now have to pay a fee because of the nitrates entering the water shed. We don't even fertilize our trees, we don't have horses, and they are still making us pay. So DH, is going to start using fertilizer on the Christmas trees. I'm going to ask a neighbor if he has any good manure for my garden. I'll be sure to do it on the weekend when the city isn't looking! LOL!
WIB,
SW

Are they talking about fresh manure or composted manure? Perhaps if you have a source of horse manure, you could start composting it, since you have to pay anyway. Talk to drdon at the round-up - he's the master of compost.

My neighbors stuff is composted already, great manure. I will talk to Dr. Don, but most of my greens get fed to the chickens. LOL! There are still other things like all those leaves I'd like to compost and it's way past time to get to work on it.
Thanks for the idea, KC.
WIB,
SW

Read "Lasagna Gardening"! If you put those leaves thick enough over your weeds, you'll smother them, not have to dig them out, and improve the soil at the same time! I use cardboard in my problem areas and top it with something that looks good. After a few weeks, I can punch holes into it for small bedding plants. And after a year it breaks down completely.

We don't get enough rain to break the cardboard down here. We put some down under gravel several years ago and it's still there and solid. :-(
I'm sure it helps if you have soil, etc. on top of it and it gets watered somewhat regularly!

I've used all kinds of stuff, including wetted down newspaper (I had to wet it down or the wind would have blown it away), cardboard, and in the worst spots an old carpet. Then I covered with the landscaper's cloth and stapled it down. Took me all summer, and DH and the kids thought I was nuts. Then I finally got wood chip compost over it all.
Had to go to extreme measures in some areas because of the new leach line being dug caused Australian poplar shoots to sprout up everywhere!
Now it is my H.bird/B.fly garden and I hardly have any weeds to contend with. If one of them poplar shoots sprouts up, I cut it as far down as I can and cover it with cardboard then more plastic, then more landscapers cloth and mulch.
Right now, I don't have any weeds where the leaves ended up next to the chicken pen. I am seriously considering planting Society Garlic there because nothing eats it, and it will be pretty along the fence line without obstructing the view of the chicken pen. The rest of the leaves are going to be covered with another layer of compost from my pile. Some areas up front are getting a bit thin, and the compost will keep those leaves from blowing around more.
DH's mower mulches as it mows. So no problem with leaves on his lawn.
You are trying to build soil? Know a friendly tree trimmer? They'll often give it to you for free! ^_^
WIB,
SW

He-he-he...wait until you see our mulch! Be careful where you walk or you might fall in! We have little palm trees coming up here and there, too. No, we're not trying to build soil - just waiting for more of it recover from the compacting done at construction. We mulch to help stop weeds and to save water.

Should I bring my waders or tweezers?
WIB,
SW

Yes.

Okay! LOL!
WIB,
SW