Would this be ok to use?

[leah]

I have got quite a few of the mini picket fences for border edges, if I were to line the sides with black plastic, would they be ok for raised beds? They would be almost the perfect size and are ready to go in my garden!

[TheHat]

In theory they would be fine to use with plastic plugging the gaps, however i would be a little worried they would not be strong enough to hold the weight once you have filled them as from what I have seen of these things they are not to strong and only intended to look nice.

They may be ok if you were to hold them in with longish stakes.

Vince

[leah]

Thank you Vince I think would definately have to stke them along the length

[Jeanied]

I have made raised beds with anything I could get my hands on - Vince is right as the picket fencing plastic is not very UV stable and gets brittle quite quickly - but once you have it all marked out and tucked in, bits of reinforcement may keep it all working well for a good while! At the moment I'm using strips from an old fence to mark out and support some edges - with some stakes hammered in at intervals to hold it. If it breaks down/ bulges then I just hammer in another stake or slide in a horizontal piece of fencing!

[leah]

sorry, forgot to say that they are wooden

I like the idea of being able to stake it on the other side too if need be

[sarraceniac]

I'm a bit more worried about the black plastic than I am about the fencing. It can rot and tear fairly quickly unless you get the really thick horticultural stuff. Don't try it with bin liners.

[leah]

I've got some really thick stuff that my oh got from work, he's a builder. I think it is the stuff they use for damp proof corses? Should be ok I think

Thank you for all the advice

[Jeanied]

Sounds great Leah - do post pics if you get a chance!