I tend to get panicky if I don't have a mound of black dirt (compost blend) behind the barn. A dump truck load (14 yards) is about $300, depending on what sale the local dirt yard is running and will last me 1-2 seasons. My dirt yard utilizes their own composting system from local sources (yard waste, food residuals, and wood products). I've never had any weed sprouting problems, although sometimes it does get a bit crunchy in a hot dry spell.
