Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Raised Borders

PoppyTigerLilyPoppyTigerLily Posts: 10
in Garden design
Hello! I want to raise all my borders up to 1ft high with a retaining wall around them. I have quite a few established shrubs, climbers, rose bushes, bulbs. 

Do I have to dig them all up and replant them or can I put topsoil in and ‘bury’ them a foot? 

All advice welcome. 
Thank you 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Rasing the soil by a foot is too much, even for bulbs and clematis, some of which can survive 5-6 inches extra.  Doing so will kill most trees and shrubs, so you'll have to dig them up I'm afraid and any large established shrubs might not survive, so expect a proportion of losses.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    6ft x 1ft concrete boards, supported by 'T' section angle iron will do the job easily AND be temporary enough that you can remove them or put elsewhere if so desired?
  • PoppyTigerLilyPoppyTigerLily Posts: 10
    Thank you both. 
Sign In or Register to comment.