Linkaboard

[jimbojetset]

waaah? surely it's easier to pick up a couple of bits of wood lying in the street / off freecycle / off a scaffolder
than some horrible / expensive / plasticy things that you have to pay for the marketing, postage and what not

[hamsterqueen]

I bought 2 last year and was so pleased that I bought another 2 this year plus canopy supports.

It was much easier preparing for teh new veg this year as the ground hadn't been compacted by walking on it.

I originally wanted to make raised beds from sleepers but they were SO expensive, I'm glad I bought the Link-a-bord, I'm considering double height beds next year.
in theory picking up wood off the street /freecycle/scaffolder sounds good, but it's not necessarily there when you need it!

[Demeter]

I made raised beds out of decking wood last year (for my front garden), bought from a certain well-known DIY store at about £3 per 2m length.

Much cheaper than linkabord, more aesthetically pleasing IMO, and very easy to make even as a first carpentry project (cut to size, drill pilot holes, screw together, set in position, done) - I even made one of the beds double height.

Even so, I don't think I would make raise beds for the lottie. Certainly not when there is so much else I haven't done yet!!

[Sue]

Clarea1
Hi
I go along with the others to recommend them, I've got 21 of them on the allotment...
And when you're faced with no DIY skills, no DIY equipment and no transport to lug heavy bits of wood around then these are, for me at least, the ideal solution. I bought them as and when I had the money - not all at once - and took advantage of any special offers going.

I've been very pleased with them, easy to put up and they stay lodged in the ground and like some of the others, I've noticed I've been able to get crops in the ground sooner than non-raised bed gardeners. Also they come into their own in the winter as they're so easy to keep covered and grow crops through the winter.

The only problem I've had is that one facing the outside of the plot got "strimmed" by one of the contractors hired to do the grass by the council, even then it only broke through the outer skin, so not getting earth leakage.

There are lots of raised bed choices now but these still seem to be the most reasonably priced and made from recycled plastic too!
best wishes
Sue

[Alison Adams]

Link-a-bords get my vote too. I looked at wood initially, assuming it would be the most environmentally sound choice, and untreated wood probably is, but untreated wood doesnt last and as it rots it attracts woodlice and has to be replaced in a few years. If you treat it, even the newest chemicals are still 'nasty chemicals' that I dont want near my dinner... So, recycled plastic saved from landfill, actually becomes a sound environmental choice.
They are quite expensive compared to picking up old scaffold planks - except you cant seem to get them so easily these days.
I am buying a couple at a time and gradually moving over to them as and when we have some spare cash and something waiting to be planted !

[Daniel Robinson]

thank you all for your answers, The other thing is that would evenpreserved will only last for between 5- 6 years according to harrod hort but link a bord will last for over 20 years accordeding to the adds.
Daniel

[FionaH]

thank you all for your answers, The other thing is that would evenpreserved will only last for between 5- 6 years according to harrod hort but link a bord will last for over 20 years accordeding to the adds.
Daniel

It may well be true but ads will tell you that you can have fairy soft hands just by doing the washing up

[allaboutliverpool]

My wooden beds are now into their 4th year and showing no sign of rot.

As each bed costs £10 (at todays B&Q price), then a 5 year lifespan is £2 per annum, and 10 years (which I am expecting) is £1 per annum for an 8x4 bed.

You would have to keep a commercial product for about 30 years to match that!

allaboutallotments_Deep_bed_building

[mrshopeful]

I've bought two link a bord kits (2 x 1m), only got one up so far and it was very easy to put up, haven't planted anything in it yet so can't comment on that side of it.

It probably would be cheaper to build my own but with no diy skills and a promise to my husband to never ever ever use the drill (I can be extremely clumsy ) building my own isn't an option. Hubby absolutely detests any form of diy so no way could I persuade him to do them for me either and paying someone to make them would cost more than the link a bord kit (although I do get annoyed that they can't spell board )

The rest of my beds I've marked out so I don't tread on them and I'm thinking of getting a couple of raised bed kits each year to spread the cost but in the meantime will see how I get on with the raised beds in comparison to non raised beds as it's my first year of growing.

[butter fingers]

i have a one and a half by one metre and a one metre square beds.i bought link a board because i live in flat with a postage stamp size bit of ground outside my door so it would not upset the neighbours with" bits of wood"outside.I would say that when placed on un even ground like mine dont rely on the dowels to stop any movement, they just lock the boards together. i still peged my boards to be safe.As to wether to use wood or not i think its a matter of if you can afford to,and how much time u have? At my allotment plot i have used re- cycled wood from work to edge and divide out.