Gery, I can't put anything in there yet. The soil is so full of stones and rubble. I've got to go through it all by hand to clear it (Any tips on an easy way to do that? Thought about using a kitchen collinder like a sieve!).
Also, that wood that I've used as the sides won't last five minutes when it rains. It was an old set of pine bunk beds I've took apart, just to give me an idea of the bed borders. Below is what I did with the headboards! I needed this tree cordoned off, as Jess keeps running into the branches, so I trimmed it down, and stuck them round. Plan to cover it in chicken wire as well, and put some climbers to disguise them!
Again, probably won't last long when bad weather comes, but keeps her away for now!
That post will definately be chickenwired as well. The concrete ball at the base was massive, went under the slabs towards the door as well, so couldn't push it over.
Geoff, I had planned on doing veg's at first, but now I'm coming round to the idea of flowers. The side where the fence is probably gets a couple of hours tops, depending on sunrise. I know it's in shade by 9am. The other side by the wall however gets it up until 3-4pm at the moment. It's that wall that I wanted my Grapevine on.
What about painted Pallet wood for the raised beds?
You could treat those headboards with garden wood preserver, or woodstain. You can buy it in lots of colours. Red? It's expensive, IMO.
The main reason why some people need raised beds is to assist drainage, and they also make it easier for some root crops, like carrots. Because the sides mark off the growing area they also deter people from stepping on the soil. That's very important. Compacting soil, by treading on it, is the thing you want to avoid. So, as long as the beds are marked off, that's the main thing. If the soil is already compacted, then forking it over (or digging), so the soil becomes loose with plenty of air in it, is a good idea.
A few stones are useful, in assisting drainage. But 'rubble' doesn't sound very nice. It is possible to sieve top soil. I've done that. The fine separated soil is almost as good as compost. A proper garden sieve costs about £4, from most garden centres. In your situation, I'd have thought that turning the soil over with a spade/fork and picking out the worst bits by hand would do.
And you want to start making your own compost, with all your kitchen waste, so you can start improving the soil.
Becks pallets would work but use a wood presertative -the other thing to bear in mind is how you are going to fill them remembering you are on a budget- bagged compost-top/soil does not come cheap,
Well, I've just got back from our local village hardware shop, and he's ordering me a garden sieve in, and 3 metres of chicken wire, all for a fiver. And he gave me a pack of Hollyhock seeds, Chaters Double mix! Bargain. And then next door gave me a dark wood patio set (Table and 4 chairs) as they've replaced theirs! Having a good day so far!
I can get hold of a couple of free pallets, and scour ebay for some wood preserver, which can do both the pallets and headboards. If not, hardware shop jobby again. I'm sure he'll see me ok.
Geoff, when I first started on that area, it was mainly dirt/soil before I extended and re-laid the slabs, and I have recyling bins full of what I dug out, and another little pile by the new little fence. I'm also extending all the borders around the whole garden, so should have more to add from there. Hopefully.
Neighbours and friends are a good source of plant material. Many plants can be divided, or pieces with some root cut off (not the best time of year; though some plants could be divided now). Many plants will transplant, with some TLC.
Well, I found out yesterday my sister has a grapevine in her garden!!! How do I take cuttings from that? Not sure if edible or decorative, but I'm not fussed about that.
And I've heard of that Geoff, but never used it. The old boy over the road from me has a trailer he uses to take stuff to the tip with. Will have a nosey later!
Our poles were good old fashioned concrete poles with steel up the middle too and the only problem was that to finally break the last steels in the middle, we had to bend the cut over some bricks to open it wide to allow access.
Posts
Gery, I can't put anything in there yet. The soil is so full of stones and rubble. I've got to go through it all by hand to clear it (Any tips on an easy way to do that? Thought about using a kitchen collinder like a sieve!).
Also, that wood that I've used as the sides won't last five minutes when it rains. It was an old set of pine bunk beds I've took apart, just to give me an idea of the bed borders. Below is what I did with the headboards! I needed this tree cordoned off, as Jess keeps running into the branches, so I trimmed it down, and stuck them round. Plan to cover it in chicken wire as well, and put some climbers to disguise them!
Again, probably won't last long when bad weather comes, but keeps her away for now!
That post will definately be chickenwired as well. The concrete ball at the base was massive, went under the slabs towards the door as well, so couldn't push it over.
Geoff, I had planned on doing veg's at first, but now I'm coming round to the idea of flowers. The side where the fence is probably gets a couple of hours tops, depending on sunrise. I know it's in shade by 9am. The other side by the wall however gets it up until 3-4pm at the moment. It's that wall that I wanted my Grapevine on.
What about painted Pallet wood for the raised beds?
You could treat those headboards with garden wood preserver, or woodstain. You can buy it in lots of colours. Red? It's expensive, IMO.
The main reason why some people need raised beds is to assist drainage, and they also make it easier for some root crops, like carrots. Because the sides mark off the growing area they also deter people from stepping on the soil. That's very important. Compacting soil, by treading on it, is the thing you want to avoid. So, as long as the beds are marked off, that's the main thing. If the soil is already compacted, then forking it over (or digging), so the soil becomes loose with plenty of air in it, is a good idea.
A few stones are useful, in assisting drainage. But 'rubble' doesn't sound very nice. It is possible to sieve top soil. I've done that. The fine separated soil is almost as good as compost. A proper garden sieve costs about £4, from most garden centres. In your situation, I'd have thought that turning the soil over with a spade/fork and picking out the worst bits by hand would do.
And you want to start making your own compost, with all your kitchen waste, so you can start improving the soil.
Becks pallets would work but use a wood presertative -the other thing to bear in mind is how you are going to fill them remembering you are on a budget- bagged compost-top/soil does not come cheap,
With reference to your concrete post, since you want to cover it with slabs, do you know anyone with an angle grinder?
Our very nice neighbour cut ours down to ground level for us!
Well, I've just got back from our local village hardware shop, and he's ordering me a garden sieve in, and 3 metres of chicken wire, all for a fiver. And he gave me a pack of Hollyhock seeds, Chaters Double mix! Bargain. And then next door gave me a dark wood patio set (Table and 4 chairs) as they've replaced theirs! Having a good day so far!
I can get hold of a couple of free pallets, and scour ebay for some wood preserver, which can do both the pallets and headboards. If not, hardware shop jobby again. I'm sure he'll see me ok.
Geoff, when I first started on that area, it was mainly dirt/soil before I extended and re-laid the slabs, and I have recyling bins full of what I dug out, and another little pile by the new little fence. I'm also extending all the borders around the whole garden, so should have more to add from there. Hopefully.
Would that do it Steve? It also has thick metal/steel rods running through the middle. If it will, I'll ask round the neighbours!
You've managed to get your hands on some bargains.
Neighbours and friends are a good source of plant material. Many plants can be divided, or pieces with some root cut off (not the best time of year; though some plants could be divided now). Many plants will transplant, with some TLC.
Becks also look on freecycle- I quite often see free top spoil or manure-if you have means of collecting it.
Well, I found out yesterday my sister has a grapevine in her garden!!! How do I take cuttings from that? Not sure if edible or decorative, but I'm not fussed about that.
And I've heard of that Geoff, but never used it. The old boy over the road from me has a trailer he uses to take stuff to the tip with. Will have a nosey later!
Our poles were good old fashioned concrete poles with steel up the middle too and the only problem was that to finally break the last steels in the middle, we had to bend the cut over some bricks to open it wide to allow access.
Otherwise It took five minutes!