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Raised bed ideas

melMSPQk4oemelMSPQk4oe Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg
I've been growing fruit and veg in raised beds for several years, but due to chronic back problems, am now finding maintaining them through the seasons and digging in / up spuds too tiring! I am looking for suggestions for an alternative use for them or alternative growing ideas that require less attention. Our soil is pretty poor and sandy. Thank-you!

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you mean you still want to use them for edibles, or is anything acceptable? 

    Lots of herbs would be fine in poor sandy soil, but if you can get some manure etc into some of them, strawberries are pretty easy.  :)
    If it doesn't have to be edibles, bulbs are good for spring, and some low maintenance shrubs and/or perennials.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • melMSPQk4oemelMSPQk4oe Posts: 4
    Thank-you for the tips! I think non-edible now. We also have woodland over the fence and most crops seem to succumb to pests or slugs, devils! The strawberries need to be manured, straw on and off and netted, so have proved hard on my back, and not grown well in the sandy soil, despite enrichment. Must be something against us in the air! 
  • melMSPQk4oemelMSPQk4oe Posts: 4
    It is also a part of the garden that's out of sight, so not an area that needs to look "pretty". I just need to make it practical and easy to maintain - perhaps just lawn is the answer after all! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In that case, I'd say a few shrubs, some easy perennials like hardy geraniums, with bulbs underplanted. Loads of choices, and we're almost at bulb season, so it should be easy to find a good selection and without too much outlay. You can always have lots of daffs for cutting. 
    If the beds are in a formal layout, you can do a repeat planting too which could look quite smart.  In a sunny site, Hebes are pretty straightforward, or things like Potentilla - low maintenance  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    I too have back/knee problems so have raised beds for veg. 
    This year hubby bought me a cold frame ( larger than I wanted) but it fit half of my raised bed. So in went the carrots and beetroot in March,  then we had bad weather right through till late May, so it stayed in place with the odd day open in better weather. It has worked so well I'm planning to do the same next year. It cut out alot of weeding, kept the moisture in but the wet out, and the bugs couldn't get near. Best crop yet.

    Just another idea. 😁
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    I find that having my raised bed a metre tall helps to prevent back problems.
  • melMSPQk4oemelMSPQk4oe Posts: 4
    Thank-you all for the wonderful tips and advice! 
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