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Will it work?
spookess
Posts: 63
Newby gardener here 😊. I am about to build a raised bed for vegetables, but my hubby pointed out that when the neighbour empties their enormous 'paddling pool' each year, the water ends up waterlogged the grass in our garden.
The only space I have to build the bed is next to the fence between us and them so hubby wants to put the bed on a base of bricks instead of on top of the existing soil (which is mainly clay which is why I think the water sits on the grass instead of draining?).
If I were to build straight into the ground and not the bricks, would the water from the pool flood the bed and kill anything in it, or would mixing in gravel and top soil to the existing clay soil prevent this?
Thanks
The only space I have to build the bed is next to the fence between us and them so hubby wants to put the bed on a base of bricks instead of on top of the existing soil (which is mainly clay which is why I think the water sits on the grass instead of draining?).
If I were to build straight into the ground and not the bricks, would the water from the pool flood the bed and kill anything in it, or would mixing in gravel and top soil to the existing clay soil prevent this?
Thanks
0
Posts
That would be the best solution, although some people take offence nowadays at being asked to be considerate...
Failing that, I think I'd make it more than a raised bed if you only have that area suitable.
What are you constructing the bed from? If it's timber, it's easy enough to put it on legs made for fenceposts. It would then be a wooden container on top, lined and with holes for drainage etc.
If it's going to be from block or brick, I think your hubby's idea is sound. You could even do some paving on a layer of brick or block, and build the bed on top of that. As long as there are gaps at regular intervals for drainage, that will be fine.
Raised beds tend to drain quickly anyway, but you don't want the soil to be in constant contact with 'wet', especially wet from people in a paddling pool....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you are constructing the raised beds from timber, make them 2 planks high for extra depth and drainage and line the insides with black plastic (old compost bags?) to protect the wood. Don't forget to make them wide enough to be useful but not so wide you can't reach the middle without stepping in. 1m20 is usually good or slightly less if you are not tall.
I was going to go for 1m wide as I am on the shorter side of tall 😊
Your suggestion Obelixx is kind of what I was thinking. So if I break up the clay, add a good layer of compost (sorry - could not do the manure thing yet 😷 I'm building up to that lol) then top with top soil - is that about right for growing veg? Maybe 2/3 compost to 1/3 topsoil?
Sorry - I did warn you I was a Newby 😳
Each year, you'll need to add to it and refresh it - hence the manure, as it gives the best nutrition, but adding good compost will also be fine. You'll get a feel for it with experience, depending on the planting you want.
If you divide the bed up by putting a barrier[s] in across it, front to back, you can also tailor each section for what you want to grow. Carrots don't like rich soil for example, and some veg will need more moisture than others etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Your mix of compost and soil sounds fine to me. As @Fairygirl says, veggies have different requirements so you need to think about a rotation - This link https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=124 will start you off.
Adding a mulch of garden or other compost or soil improver every autumn will help build up fertility and the worms will work it in over winter. There are some crops such as kale, purple sprouting broccoli that can withstand winter and provide some crops, especially in early spring when everything else is still tiny. You can sow broad beans in autumn too to get an earlier crop and reduce the likelihood of aphid infestations.