To Terrace or not to Terrace that is the ?

[Snadger]

I have a long allotment (I'm not bragging!) which is on a slope. I have divided it up crosswise into 4'-0" beds with paths between them. Across each bed there is a drop in level of approximately six inches.

I have toyed with the idea of terracing it. Is it worth doing and what advantages/ disadvantages would it have over a sloping plot? I think it would look tidy but need something more than tidyness to justify the time , effort and cost inviolved

The beds run lengthwise North/South

[User Removed]

I have 40 allotments nearly 20 acres and a garden centre (im not bragging either ). Anyway back to the real subject, I think that you should terrace it as it will make it look better and it should be easyer to look after and care for

[roitelet]

Yes Snadger, terrace your allotment. I have a plot on a north/south slope 15m x 7m and for two years have used it unterraced. Last winter I terraced it and divided it into 4 x 3m beds and a smaller one for a seed bed. It's made life much easier and when watering the water doesn't all run downhill

[Snadger]

Yes Snadger, terrace your allotment. I have a plot on a north/south slope 15m x 7m and for two years have used it unterraced. Last winter I terraced it and divided it into 4 x 3m beds and a smaller one for a seed bed. It's made life much easier and when watering the water doesn't all run downhill

Thanks roitelet, just out of interest how high are your retainers and what are they made of?

[Snadger]

I have 40 allotments nearly 20 acres and a garden centre (im not bragging either ). Anyway back to the real subject, I think that you should terrace it as it will make it look better and it should be easyer to look after and care for

Thanks Adam...The Aztecs or was it Incas must have been impressed with terracing anyway...

[roitelet]

Thanks roitelet, just out of interest how high are your retainers and what are they made of?

Hi Snadger,

The retainers are timber 1 1/2" x 7 1/2" The timber is new and treated.Nailed together and with stakes driven into the ground to hold it upright. Got it from the local builders yard. Cost about £70 (but in euros). Quite expensive I know but worth it for the ease of maintainence and the extra growing space .I must have lost about 3ft of each bed before terracing, what with having to bank the soil and a path. I would also add that apart from the north/south slope the plot also slopes east/west!

I will try and post a picture when I can get the hang of it

[roitelet]

I would post the pictures but they are too big! Can anyone tell me how to :confused re-size them please

[Shortie]

Hi everyone...

There's info in here on resizing photos. Found it really good and it's how I redo mine...

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...read.php?t=493

[nick the grief]

I use a little program called photo resize. It's free & a doddle to use. Here's the link

http://www.rw-designer.com/picture-resize

[roitelet]

Thanks folks. Now for the pictures I hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[roitelet]

Well that didn't work. Will try again

[eskymo]

Our garden slopes quite a lot and I've made 4 levels of terracing. It looks far more interesting than my neighbours gardens which are just one long patch of land. I did go to Peru recently so maybe I got inspired by the Inca's. I would recomend it though, as it makes your plot look more interesting and tidier and I personally find it easier to work in blocks rather than in open ground - maybe I'm translating my web design coding into garden design - who knows. The different terraces all have different planting and it's easier to do plot rotation although I'm not too strict about that myself.

[bramble]

Could you post a piccie Eskymo, would love to see it.

[Snadger]

I can recommend the photo re-sizer link of Nics

I find it very easy to use by dragging required photo onto desktop icon.....and Bobs your uncle..completemundo!!!

If I can use it anyone can!!!!