It does help with water retention - before I lined them, water used to leak from between the planks when watering so was never sure it was getting all the way down to the roots. Water will also evaporate from the surface of permanently damp wood, sucking in more from the soil behind it (via osmosis) so it's definitely worth doing in my experience.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
I've just made this from old bits of wood. Lined sides with weed suppressant polythene ( not the porous membrane) to protect wood from soil, I have painted exposed wood inside and out with cuprinol. Can't wait to plant it up.
Hi Grimble, have you lined the bottom of the planter, I'm going to make some raised planters that will hopefully be about 30cm from ground level so will be placed on my patio. I don't know whether to line or not, if yes do I need to put drainage holes in, very new to this gardening malarkey. Have planted loads of veg in my mini allotment area but a lot of it seems to have bolted or been eaten by slugs :-(
I didnt line the base as I put it straight onto an unused grass. But I'm sure if you made a slatted base for yours and lined base and sides , but ensure you punch drainage holes into base lining ,you should be ok. By the way, no need for expensive pieces of liner , just save up your compost bags . Staple them to the edges , base and bobs your uncle.
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It does help with water retention - before I lined them, water used to leak from between the planks when watering so was never sure it was getting all the way down to the roots. Water will also evaporate from the surface of permanently damp wood, sucking in more from the soil behind it (via osmosis) so it's definitely worth doing in my experience.
Great - that's really helpful
thats precisely what Ive experienced and while the soil is definitely warmer, I do feel vegetables have lost out to constantly dryer conditions,
Many thanks Bob
Looks good grimble - mine are all lined with beavy duty black poly. Makes a big diffference to water retention too if reqiured
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
In place runner beans and garlic planted beet roots to follow. So,pleased with it!
Hi Grimble, have you lined the bottom of the planter, I'm going to make some raised planters that will hopefully be about 30cm from ground level so will be placed on my patio. I don't know whether to line or not, if yes do I need to put drainage holes in, very new to this gardening malarkey. Have planted loads of veg in my mini allotment area but a lot of it seems to have bolted or been eaten by slugs :-(
I didnt line the base as I put it straight onto an unused grass. But I'm sure if you made a slatted base for yours and lined base and sides , but ensure you punch drainage holes into base lining ,you should be ok. By the way, no need for expensive pieces of liner , just save up your compost bags . Staple them to the edges , base and bobs your uncle.
Good luck. Lisa
Thank you for this,gonna give it a go ?
Go for it . I'll post some pics ( when it's stoppe with the much needed rain! ) of the bed with plants now growing away nicely!
Regard grimble.
A super useful discussion. Thanks for that.