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Raised bed question

HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
in The potting shed
Morning Diggers. Planning some raised beds, siting them on grass, do I need to removed grass turf before I layer up or will drainage material and soil layers be enough to kill the grass off? Ta
It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Depends how high they are. The best solution is to lift the turf and put it in the bottom, turned the other way up.
    It also depends on what you're growing in them, and what the drainage is like underneath.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
    Not sure if they'll be 1 or 2 (scaffold) planks high, using for veg and we're on heavy clay here (oh joy!)
    It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd make sure the ground underneath is well amended, but in general, raised beds dry more quickly than those at ground level, so you might be ok - again depending on the veg. In very wet areas [like mine] clay can be a problem if water can't get away well enough for anything needing good drainage. 
    2 boards high would probably be fine though, assuming the medium you use is suitable  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I put several layers of cardboard down, and built upon that.  I didn't dig the turf at all.  It worked great.  I was no dig for a number of years.. but the weeds in my grass (bindweed and couch grass) set runners in under the soil, so I have to dig now to get them out every spring.  

    Since you are building now, I would expect the cardboard to be soft and easy for your plants to send roots down through this spring.  All the goodness of the turf layer is there, even if you didn't flip it upside down.  
    Utah, USA.
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