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3' high raised bed advice welcomed

catbeeniecatbeenie Posts: 5
in Problem solving

I'm a beginner gardener really but after years of fighting to grow grass and plants under my pussy willow I've decided to make a feature of a raised bed about 3' high x 3' wide x 7' long around it. Any advice as what to build it out of? I was thinking hollow concrete block? 

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I think I'd rather look at bare soil around a tree than 3 feet high concrete blocks. Does that mean the tree will have 3 feet of soil up its trunk. It may complain about that, though being a willow it may not.

    How big is this tree, I have a garden full of trees and plants grow under them, you just need to grow the right ones.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    I think you should keep it wood..... Are you planting in it? Why not consider a hexagon shaped wooden raised bed with a ledge than can almost double as a seat?

  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    http://m.primrose.co.uk/hexagonal-tree-seat-planter-p-555.html something like this.......

  • catbeeniecatbeenie Posts: 5
    Its over 10' tall and I can't plant anything coz of its roots! Its in the corner and I don't fancy the hexagonal thing. I am planning to paint the blocks a pale blue and plant up the bed including plants that will spill over the sides like ivy. It'll look great just not sure what the best material may be to use to build the walls from!
  • catbeeniecatbeenie Posts: 5
    Thanks though, I had considered a similar thing to the hexagonal seat. I also hadn't considered the tree not liking being in soil. I'll give it a whirl!
  • WeaveyDaveyWeaveyDavey Posts: 575

    Have you considered using hollow concrete blocks and 'battering' the face of the wall on at least three sides? I've seen this approach used with great effect elsewhere as it gives multiple little soil 'pockets' on each course of blocks - into which you can plant numerous trailling subjects?

  • catbeeniecatbeenie Posts: 5

    Ooooh that sounds nice David, thanks! I will do that! Do you mean missing the odd brick out?! Or what is battering?

     

  • WeaveyDaveyWeaveyDavey Posts: 575

    Battering is angling the face of the 'wall' back from the vertical. Does not mean missing any blocks atall! A 'two-thirds' overlap should give an inch or two for the soil 'pockets' in front of the face of the upper block, and so on towards your desired height.

  • catbeeniecatbeenie Posts: 5

    haha, yes I know what you mean!!! I'm terrified of doing this myself: I have a picture of what it'll look like and it may well look rubbish and I'll end up getting someone to rebuild it! Thanks for the tips!

     

  • Joe_the_GardenerJoe_the_Gardener Posts: 876

    Whatever you build it from, it needs to be able to support 5 tons of soil; think about the weight of two Jeeps. And will concrete blocks look that nice, even painted blue? I suppose it depends on the style of the rest of your garden.

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