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Raised bed advice - depth & lining options

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  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    I think I will put a layer of sharp sand, then the weedproof membrane over the whole  area. I will then cut out squares in the middle of each bed to let the soils mix.  
    What a great idea, I'm going to pinch that idea...  ;)  
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • suzquigleysuzquigley Posts: 14
    Hi Folks. Lots of you were so good helping me with suggestions I thought I’d give an update.  My 3 raised beds are now in place and just about finished ready to be planted up. I should be there by now except I’ve had a dose of flu all week rendering my useless. 
    I am quite pleased with them except I totally goofed up ordering way too much topsoil. I don’t think my DH will ever let me live it down 😳😂

    I attach photos. I did cut holes in the bottoms but forgot to take a photo of that! I can’t get the shots in the right order, but you get the gist! 
  • Those are neat, @suzquigley .  Did you make them yourselves or did you buy them in ?
    When there's always biscuits in the tin, where's the fun in biscuits ?
  • suzquigleysuzquigley Posts: 14
    Thank you @Winston_The_Gravity_Man . I bought them as kits on the internet. We only needed to connect the 4 sides together with 8 screws, then add the 4 top edging strips. They are very sturdy, thick heavy timber. They are pressure treated but I’ve also treated them with Eco Wood. They are sturdy enough to sit on while tending the beds, which will be great for my back! 
  • They look an awful lot better and more sturdy than a lot of the ones you see for sale, and what with being pressure treated and with your wood treatment too I'm sure they'll be bombproof.

    Good to see you've left a gap between the beds and the wall.  Amazing how much stuff gets blown and caught behind things in a garden.
    When there's always biscuits in the tin, where's the fun in biscuits ?
  • suzquigleysuzquigley Posts: 14
    Yes, I’ve left a decent gap. Not least because the wall isn’t mine (my neighbour’s garage).  The beds weren’t cheap, but worth it. I’ve a small garden and they are very prominent. If I had a big garden with veg patch at the bottom out of sight I wouldn’t need to be so picky! 
    Thanks for your feedback! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm not sure why you've put membrane across the bottom though. There's no need to do that  :)
     Make sure you let the soil mix settle well, before planting, although it's less of a problem with annuals. They always need topping up. 
    My raised beds are all edged like that as they're ornamental. Definitely a good idea when you're seeing them each day, or in a small space  @suzquigley.
    Look good though. Hope you enjoy using them.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • suzquigleysuzquigley Posts: 14
    Thanks @Fairygirl . I’ve actually cut big square holes out the bottom of each bed to let soil and worms mix. I thought it would be less fiddly to put the fabric down first instead of laying lots of separate strips. This has proved true as the fabric frays like crazy. The fabric is there to stop weeds on the paths and also so the timber frames are sitting on sand and fabric instead of my heavy clay soil, in the hope of preserving them longer. 
    The beds are for veg though so I will need to get my potatoes in asap. I have other veg germi sting in trays. Do you think that will be a problem? What will happen? (I have plenty left over for topping up, though no idea where to put it just now lol)
  • suzquigleysuzquigley Posts: 14
    Germi string? Germinating, whoops
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I still don't understand why you put it right across the bed. It would only need to be under the timber frame itself, although membrane is porous, so that isn't much use for preventing rotting. You need plastic, or something like a concrete edge or a little trench of gravel. Anything that stops the timber touching the soil itself.  :)  
    They look fairly deep/high, so I'd think most plants will have enough root room, although roots can penetrate membrane quite readily unless it's very heavy duty, or several layers thick. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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