Yea, but with the big square I’ve cut out the base of the beds, it pretty much is only under the timber bits, albeit with quite a margin around them. There is quite a thick layer of sharp sand under the fabric too, to elevate the whole thing off the clay.
I read a lot of different suggestions for beds and decided this one was the best for me. It’s been a lot of work. The beds are 40cm deep (38 plus the top edging), and I know I might not need this depth to grow most things, but my back will thank me and I think they look good, so I’m pleased. I just need to learn to grow lovely vegetables now. 😂
Raised beds are undoubtedly an easier option on clay - especially if you're in a consistently wet area. It was a no brainer for me in this site when I moved in ten years ago, and I've done it in other gardens too. The 'garden' was slabs and gravel, over compacted clay/hardcore, with coarse sand under the slabs. My beds all sit on that gravel/sand, and where there wasn't that base for a couple of them, they're on heavy duty plastic. Even then, one or two pieces small pieces on the gravel/sand mix have rotted and I've had to replace them recently. If I was to do them again, I'd lay them all on a concrete channel/bed. I just hope the sand works well enough for you though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I’m glad your beds are in the main doing well. If I get 10 years out of them I will be happy. I have the notion that if the planks again the ground rot first I can lop that layer off and will still have pretty deep beds! 😊
I don't know if this is any help as I might be late to the thread but I managed to fill this large metal 1m long, 0.8m wide and 0.3m deep container full of soil. I put some sticks,cardboard, some kitchen scraps and soft hedge cuttings on the bottom. I then struck gold as some new people in my street are levelling a patch of their neglected garden. So I went and took about 100L or so of clay soil. This got me halfway. I then filled the rest with 3x40L peat free compost. I'm also considering putting some spent compost from some old pots in too. I'm planning to plant it up with tomatoes/chillies.
Thanks @alexryzawlskiqBU-X4OF for posting, but my beds are now filled. I have old lawn sods, the old bed timber bits on the bottom, then some cardboard. Then a tonne of topsoil with some sharp sand and garden compost mixed in. I made a pigs ear of doing the most basic soil-volume calculation and ordered 2 tonnes of topsoil when I only needed one (I have no idea how I can have been so supremely stupid!).
Good luck with your tomatoes and chillies. Is that outside you grow them if us your trough in a greenhouse?
That's great @suzquigley. I'm sure you'll find a use for the other tonne; I'm always trying to look for soil. All my crops are outside as I don't really have the space for a big greenhouse sadly. However the tomatoes and chillies are on a hot south facing wall where they always do alright. Good luck with your raised beds.
I don’t have space for a greenhouse either, but might manage a little one in the future if I save up to move my fence and get the ground flattened in the only sunny spot I have left. You are doing well to grow tomatoes and chillies outside. I’ve tried that and the tomatoes grew well, but didn’t ripen before the weather got too cold again for them. Thanks for getting back!
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I just hope the sand works well enough for you though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...