You only have the weight of the edge frame bearing down on the tilled soil trying to sink it, not the weight of all the soil in the bed (like you would have if we were talking about pots). I'd be very surprised if they will sink at all if just laid directly on the tilled soil, but realistically by the time you have shoogled them back and forth in each direction to get them level you will have compressed the soil directly under them anyway.
Mine are 18" high made from 6x2" timbers (recycled for free from joiners rubbish heap), I laid them directly onto tilled soil (with the obligatory shoogling and levelling), apart from one end of one being a bit low relative to my non-flat lawn, neither of them have moved in the 2 or 3 years each have been in position for....
Definitely don't create any barrier or compacted soil under the bed itself, you want the roots to be able to go deep if they want to.
Thanks Honeywort - I'm an artist so I like visuals tee hee. we're pretty proud of how things have come along.
It's lovely to see others plots too if only to gain Ideas and what to plant and when! we're struggling to know what to put in now as the onions are about ready to lift?
The whole point of raised beds is that they don't become compacted because they are NEVER walked on.
Because of that they may not be suitable for plants that need very firm soil, like sprouts.
They are a blessing psychologically. It is far more daunting facing a whole plot that needs hoeing, rather than a raised bed which can be weeded in no time! I love them!
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Your hubby is over thinking it!
You only have the weight of the edge frame bearing down on the tilled soil trying to sink it, not the weight of all the soil in the bed (like you would have if we were talking about pots). I'd be very surprised if they will sink at all if just laid directly on the tilled soil, but realistically by the time you have shoogled them back and forth in each direction to get them level you will have compressed the soil directly under them anyway.
Mine are 18" high made from 6x2" timbers (recycled for free from joiners rubbish heap), I laid them directly onto tilled soil (with the obligatory shoogling and levelling), apart from one end of one being a bit low relative to my non-flat lawn, neither of them have moved in the 2 or 3 years each have been in position for....
Definitely don't create any barrier or compacted soil under the bed itself, you want the roots to be able to go deep if they want to.
Thanks Honeywort - I'm an artist so I like visuals tee hee. we're pretty proud of how things have come along.
It's lovely to see others plots too if only to gain Ideas and what to plant and when! we're struggling to know what to put in now as the onions are about ready to lift?
Because of that they may not be suitable for plants that need very firm soil, like sprouts.
They are a blessing psychologically. It is far more daunting facing a whole plot that needs hoeing, rather than a raised bed which can be weeded in no time! I love them!