New raised bed advice

[Andy J]

Hi all, happy new year.

Just after some advice please. I've got a section of lawn which I'll be turning into a raised bed area for veg within the coming months and obviously don't want the lawn or any weeds within my beds.

Currently it's lawn so what's best to here?....do I dig up the lawn then place the beds on or can I use weed membrane/sand etc?

Many thanks.

[Scarlet]

You don't want to use a membrane really because you won't be able to grow any root veg - parsnips, carrots, Swede etc.

I just built up the sides with scaffolding boards, laid card/ loads of newspapers on top and then filled with earth. ( that was dug out for my greenhouse footings)

You could slice off the grass, turn it upside down and then put the card on top - less likely to get any regrowth.

[Vegi potager]

I am with Scarlet... I did put membrane down for the first 12-18 months on some, and just newspaper/cardboard for others. No difference in any grass etc coming through. It was bit of hassle then pulling the membrane out as my parsnips were L shaped in those beds

[MyWifesBrassicas]

I'm also on the side of the already mentioned.
Thick layer of cardboard/newspaper and soil/compost to 15+ cm depth

[Can the Man]

I have used membrane on the bottom of my raised beds in the poly tunnel, this is to ensure soil is not washed away into gravel underneath which helps ensure no over watering or water lodging. I have built an outdoor raised bed also, I plan to grow onions in it, but I have put membrane on the bottom of this as I just sat the bed where weeds used to thrive. There is about 2-21/2ft of soil in it. Might try grow a few parsnips in it as a trial.

[Right Shed Fred]

Big vote for laying down cardboard, then adding your compost (more than 10cm) etc on top of that from me. Let nature do the hard work. Check out Charles Dowding's website for videos on how he converts lawns to beds.

[Logunner]

Cardboard and let nature do the rest..

[SarrissUK]

I'm another no dig fan - just lay down the cardboard and put compost on top in whatever form you can find it. Some like to use some kind of border such as pallet collars, or other types of raised beds. Personally I don't, as it only cosmetic, other than where I need height quickly, such as next to a path in a small space.
Let us know how you get on! And before/after pics too please!

[Bren In Pots]

I turned part of our lawn over to grow veg, I didn't make raised beds though just beds with quarry tile paths in between. The turf was lifted, stacked and left to break down I don't think it took long before it was usable soil. I did add Dalek compost and leaf mould to the beds then planted into that.

[piskieinboots]

For my raised beds, I dug up the turf, built the raised bed (actually; he did that bit) turned the turf upside down back into bed, filled with compost, consisting of homegrown and bought.

[Scarlet]

Some like to use some kind of border such as pallet collars, or other types of raised beds. Personally I don't, as it only cosmetic, other than where I need height quickly.

I think borderless beds are fine in an allotment or if you don't mind a bit of mess. When you plan to do a bed on a lawn it's a little different?
There's no way I could cope without an "edge" to mow the lawn to - either boards or tiles. In fact my beds were built with the spacing in between to fit my mower

[It never rains..it pours]

I tend to go with what ever I have easily availiable, preferably free, which would be cardboard on the bottom then manure, then compost/soil/seaweed mix on top

[Kirk]

I would just mark out the bed, put the edging in place and either simply forget the grass on the base, or sort of slice it off, turn it over. And then just add whatever you are going to fill the bed with.

The grass layer at the bottom will die off - no light. Although I suppose there could be some very strong variety in the greenery.

All really depends on how much work you are willing to out into it all. Ultimately the idea is to grow veg. Which needs to be kept in mind.

[Andy J]

That's great, thank you for the replies.

I'm using reclaimed scaffolding boards for the beds so they're fairly deep but think I'll take the advice! Cardboard and soil / compost it is. 😀👍🏻

[rary]

If you are using old scaffold boards I would recommend that you line the inside with some heavy duty plastic and don't fix it to the boards if you can avoid it, the plastic could prevent any contamination from the boards and when you need to replace them it will hold the soil in place