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Stone Coal Bunker - Raised Herb Garden

NigRachNigRach Posts: 13
in Problem solving

Hi,

My wife and I have recently moved into an 1830's cottage and in the front garden, by the gate which leads up and into the main area, is an original stone-built coal bunker. The bunker currently has a wooden lid attached and was (up until we moved in, still being used as such).

We would like to convert this into a raised herb garden but what is the best way to do it. See pics for the bunker (apologies for the poor pics - rubbish camera!)

Obviously we could just fill it up but would there be drainage issues?
(There are no holes around the bottom of the bunker - no meaningful ones anyway)

thanks for your help

Nigel and Rachael

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Posts

  • NigRachNigRach Posts: 13

    anyone? image

  • NigRachNigRach Posts: 13

    thanks Philippa

    It's a really sunny spot so I think most herbs should do well.

    The question isn't really which herbs to plant, more of how to convert the bunker into a planter?

    Do I need to put rocks/sand etc in..what soil to fill with etc.

    Nigel

  • NigRachNigRach Posts: 13

    thanks Philippa it does make sense.

    You will have to forgive me I'm very much a newbie when it comes to gardening!

    I was worried that I would have to start drilling holes in the bunker (which I didn't realy want to do) but if needs must!

    I'd assumed there would be enough drainage as it was.

  • NigRachNigRach Posts: 13
    Thanks philippa



    Its about just under waist height so would need quite a bit to fill.



    Whats the best way to fill it?

    Rocks at the bottom? Bricks? Sand?

    Thanks
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    If you can get hold of some hardcore/rubble for free it would help. It takes a lot of soil or compost to fill something like that.

    I can't tell from the pics, is it the sort or bunker that has a ground level hole to get the coal out?



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • NigRachNigRach Posts: 13
    Hi



    No its simply 4 stone walls with an open top that the previous owner has fixed a wooden frame to.



    So just rubble at the bottom, soil on top then?

    Thanks
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    If there are no holes you will need to do something about that. They wouldn't need to be in the base, the bottom of the walls would do OK



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • NigRachNigRach Posts: 13

    Sorry, only just coming back to this. I think I've sorted out the drainage isue but was wondering what sort of soil to fill the bunker with?

    should it be a mix etc...

    thanks

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