Raised bed questions

[alldigging]

I find more appeal in the Geoff Hamilton school of molishing things out of old planks and scrap for the cost of a couple of quid's worth of decking screws. Also Geoff always seemed to care..

My sort of gardener too.

[Noosner]

Good to see your pix Iain and what handsome looking raised beds! It looks as if they are shallower at the edges, so as I'm sure you know you can grow shallower rooted crops here and put things that go down deeper, like carrots and parsnips, in the middle parts of the bed.

[Bill HH]

Wow, thank you all very much for your advice and comments. I was starting to worry that I had decided to adopt a gardening style that no one else used. Sorry for not offering my thanks earlier I got side tracked building my first raised bed (based on the VegTrug, but built from reclaimed timber for a fraction of the cost) and planter for the front garden, the raised beds in the back will be more traditional in style and follow next year...

I got the AT book for £0.80 + £2.80p&p off Amazon... I have no preference toward or against AT I just don't know of many gardeners and wanted to dip my toe into gardening at a reasonable price whilst giving myself a reasonable chance of some succes.

I don't have any health problems, although I do get a bad back frequently due to my line of work.. I thought raising them up to waist hight would mean they were always easy and comfortable to work on.

I know it'll cost a few quid more, but I thought over the years of use the ease + apperance would make the cost worth while.

I am impressed, great workmanship and a pleasure to look at. Hey you could even have a chair and get your knees under the bench.

One thing you need to be aware of is beds like this get no benefit from ground water and hence need more watering and observation. On the other hand they will drain well and so won't get water logged so easily.

[Two_Sheds]

at what stage of the weed's life do you make the mulch, TS?

Just before it flowers, ideally. That's when it's at its biggest, and has the weakest hold on the soil, so it comes up easily

Do you just chop them up with shears or is there a quicker way to do it?

That depends how tough the stems are. Tough ones get chopped up (with scissors or seckies), small ones just get pulled & dropped whole on the soil

[Two_Sheds]

I thought raising them up to waist hight would mean they were always easy and comfortable to work on.

yes, definitely.

I'm a little concerned that the soil seems to be only 3" or so deep, or have I got that wrong?

[Iain]

I'm a little concerned that the soil seems to be only 3" or so deep, or have I got that wrong?

It's about 3" deep at the sides, and 1ft deep in the middle...

[Bill HH]

I agree with TS 3 inches is hardly deep enough, you might have to add a couple of inches all round.

[Scarlet]

That's only at the sides though... It's a deep trough shape. It looks like it holds plenty by the pics

[Bill HH]

Yes the 1ft part is fine but what going to thrive in three inches (less when its settled) I would stick another board on the lot.