Brick veg patches/retaining walls - does the inside face of bricks need protection?

[Russel Sprout]

Hi all

I've just finished making a low brick wall veg patch....

Now that it is done, I'm wondering (before putting the soil back) whether it would make sense to protect the bricks where the soil will rest against them. If so, what should I use? The garden is going to be organic, so I'd prefer to stay away from anything that will leach nasties into the soil. In all honesty, I'd rather use nothing. But if it will help the wall to last longer, then I'm happy to protect.

Cheers

Max

[ESBkevin]

Bricks will be fine, many house have bricks in the ground for decades.

[Russel Sprout]

Hi

Thanks for the quick response. Funnily enough I did think that myself to begin with. But I'm not sure whether the bricks used in building that go underground are different to those used above ground?

I'm also not sure what type of bricks mine are as they were reclaimed. They've be sat behind my in-law's shed for the last 40 years or so. And before that they were used as the floor/bottom part of a community greenhouse apparently.

Cheers

[Russel Sprout]

Here's a close up of the bricks:

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Max! a bricks a brick! They'll be fine! Now if wood! Would be an entirely a different story!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Your right about different bricks 'blues' are impervious to water so used for damp courses as an example. Having said that unless you have plans to leave it to your great, great grandchildren I wouldn't worry to much.

[Russel Sprout]

Hi

Just resurrecting this thread as there has been a slight change of plan....

Thanks for the previous replies first of all....

The new plan is to finish off the triangular bed with wood (along the unfinished length; see photos). What can I use to protect the wood? I was thinking of using some of the damp proof plastic rolls you can get, or some pond liner, or some other black plastic. Are there any other options? What would be the most effective and the cheapest?

Many thanks

Max

[Potstubsdustbins]

If you haven't already got the wood buy 'pressure treated' timber, perfectly safe nowadays and will last for years.

Other wise line with plastic, even old compost bags stuck together will do the job.

[ldsau93]

I prefer to use 2 or 3 coats of creocote/creosote (even if the timber has been treated) then line with plastic/membrane as suggested above.

Depending on the size, I use either old compost bags (using a staple gun to secure) or pond membrane as you've proposed. For my next project I'm looking into using damp-proof course membrane, mostly a question of sizeprice.

[Russel Sprout]

Hi there

I had to put this project on hold for various reasons but am now getting back onto it. I think I'll use the damp-proof course rolls. So far Toolstation seem to be the best in terms of price.

Good luck with yours.