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Wood for raised beds
Ashcroft7
Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg
Good morning,
I have moved onto a very large plot of land (in excess of 3.5 acres). One of the fields was used to house cattle so the ground is very fertile, however very compact.
I'm looking to build some vegatable patches, and would like to build raised beds.
Where is the best place to buy planks of wood to build the raised beds, as I have been looking in wickes, homebase etc and im not sure it is the cheapest way of doing it and appears costs will rise very quickly!
I I do have access to a mini digger so turfing it up and loosening the soil shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Ross
0
Posts
Scaffolding boards are seriously strong, thick and resilient to the elements and will last for a long time. It's worthwhile approaching local scaffolding companies to enquire if they've got any old or 'spent' boards .
With elf 'n' safety rules, what may be no longer suitable for scaffolding planks, the waste boards will last for many, many years as a a frame for raised beds, especillay if treated.
Last edited: 02 July 2017 20:59:20
I researched several options before building mine: reclaimed bricks, Woodblox, railway sleepers, and went to B and Q. They were clueless, the pimply youth who "served" me thought I meant I was building a bed to sleep in. In the end I went to an independent building supply company (Richard Williams of Llandudno Junction, just in case you're nearby. They couldn't have been more helpful. I bought 12 "sleepers" not railway, they're new, and corner pegs, spent under £200including delivery. They changed me for cutting them to the size I wanted. The moral of the story is go to a firm that supplies builders rather than DIYErs.
If you buy reclaimed railway sleepers, check whether they've been treated with creosote. It's toxic and banned in the UK some years ago. But older sleepers were treated with it. The jury is out on whether the creosote leaches into the soil and if so do the plants take it up. Pending further research it's safer not to.
Mine are all made from fencing timber - bought from a builder's merchant - infinitely cheaper than diy places. I had a lot to build, and also had a long boundary fence to do, so it was the cheapest way of doing it. Worked out at just over £1 a metre. You wouldn't need a lot if you're doing veg beds as they only need to be about 6 to 9 inches high usually.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Is there any particular reason you are thinking of building raised beds? If the ground is fertile and you have means of breaking it up before digging it over, it does seem a bit pointless? Unless you just want to edge your beds with wood?
It is really to keep it looking neat and tidy!
Be aware you need planning permission to turn pasture into a vegetable garden.
An, so it is just to edge the beds? In which case some lengths of 4ins by 1ins unplaned timber would do the job. The nearest sawmill should be the cheapest.