Have you any photos Windsor? Yes - I should have said - anyting open to the ground will be fine, but any that have quite a bit of concrete at the base would benefit from a few holes. It also depends on your growing conditions too - if you have lots of rain, that can mean waterlogging when plants are dormant, or when they're young etc. Big plants will use up a lot of water, so you may need more manure etc to retain moisture. In any case, drainage is important. I have timber raised beds - varying heights, depths and lengths, and they're all open to the ground, so no need to worry re drainage, but the beauty of them is that you can have plants with different requirements next to each other It's surprising just how much bulk material you'll need isn't it? You'll also find that it'll need topping up regularly, as it settles quite a bit over time. If you put a lot of rubble, gravel etc at the ottom, it's also worth putting a layer of membrane/cardboard/newspaper over it to prevent your soil just getting washed through. At the height you have, it would be absolutely fine. Lyn - you could just put a roof on and it would do you as a place to sit out in if it's raining!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They're so deep because we have had to raise the patios around them by a foot and a half. Here's some pics, they're not finished, yet to be rendered. Looks a little harsh and 'Southfork Ranch' with all the concrete right now but the cedar is going up on the fence and with the render it'll be nice and crisp. I'll drop some drip line and bubblers in them for irrigation.
I'd go on freecycle and see if a builder is digging out some footings and ask for that. If he's got a pickup, you'll maybe be saving him having to pay to dump it offsite. You just need "bulk" in the bottom and good stuff in about the top 18" or so, maybe not even that. Don't go buying really good quality topsoil to stick in the bottom of a 5ft deep planter.
I can recommend CPA Horticulture - I see it's on your list. I first bought their rotted horse manure a couple of years ago - very good but a lot of woodshavings. Last year I bought 2 x 45x60L bags of rotted farmyard manure/mushroom compost. I found no woodshavings, there was good rotted straw and plenty of obvious 'manure' - very good stuff. I'll be getting another load or 2 this autumn.
Not sure where you are, but I had a project that required 25T topsoil. I was very pleased with the topsoil from Silverton Aggregates. It's the silt that's washed from the beets at the sugar beet factory mixed with some sand. It has a lovely consistency and my veg has done well in it. It's pretty sterile, so it does need some life added in, hence the compost/manure.
Love to see some more pics as your project progresses..
PS - also agree re.settling. I used 20T initially, but that sunk, so I got another 5T a few weeks later to top up. Last year I got another 1T and it could do with a bit more topping up this year. I spend most of autumn with back pain
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Cheers Red Maple! I know it's not everyone's idea of a 'garden' (in a more romantic sense) but the whole idea is to contrast hard shapes with lush foliage. We're getting there!
Posts
Yes - I should have said - anyting open to the ground will be fine, but any that have quite a bit of concrete at the base would benefit from a few holes. It also depends on your growing conditions too - if you have lots of rain, that can mean waterlogging when plants are dormant, or when they're young etc. Big plants will use up a lot of water, so you may need more manure etc to retain moisture. In any case, drainage is important.
I have timber raised beds - varying heights, depths and lengths, and they're all open to the ground, so no need to worry re drainage, but the beauty of them is that you can have plants with different requirements next to each other
It's surprising just how much bulk material you'll need isn't it? You'll also find that it'll need topping up regularly, as it settles quite a bit over time. If you put a lot of rubble, gravel etc at the ottom, it's also worth putting a layer of membrane/cardboard/newspaper over it to prevent your soil just getting washed through. At the height you have, it would be absolutely fine.
Lyn - you could just put a roof on and it would do you as a place to sit out in if it's raining!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You just need "bulk" in the bottom and good stuff in about the top 18" or so, maybe not even that.
Don't go buying really good quality topsoil to stick in the bottom of a 5ft deep planter.
I first bought their rotted horse manure a couple of years ago - very good but a lot of woodshavings.
Last year I bought 2 x 45x60L bags of rotted farmyard manure/mushroom compost.
I found no woodshavings, there was good rotted straw and plenty of obvious 'manure' - very good stuff.
I'll be getting another load or 2 this autumn.
Not sure where you are, but I had a project that required 25T topsoil. I was very pleased with the topsoil from Silverton Aggregates. It's the silt that's washed from the beets at the sugar beet factory mixed with some sand. It has a lovely consistency and my veg has done well in it. It's pretty sterile, so it does need some life added in, hence the compost/manure.
Love to see some more pics as your project progresses..
PS - also agree re.settling. I used 20T initially, but that sunk, so I got another 5T a few weeks later to top up. Last year I got another 1T and it could do with a bit more topping up this year.
I spend most of autumn with back pain
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.