raised beds

[yellow strawberry]

we are going raised beds /lasagna beds on the lotty,,i was wondering if we could but a layer of bark chipping on the bottom layer after the cardboard or whether it would take too long to rot down ,,we have been told that you can use most organic matter in them,,,but thought i would ask any experts first before we did it

[Snadger]

I wouldn't use uncomposted wood chippings in the bed. They take forever to rot down and as they do they deplete nitrogen from the soil, create moulds and release tars and gasses etc which could 'burn' the roots of young plants in doing so!

[gojiberry]

Definitely not especially if you are growing parsnips or carrots as the chipped bark will make them fork. Plus the problems as snadger says.

Ian

[yellow strawberry]

thanks peeps