New Raised beds?

[snohare]

I believe Danish oil is full of nasties Womble. Although I am prepared to accept we are all wrong. (Dear me, was that noise Manda's head exploding ?)
The black plastic will not actively harbour slugs as long as there are no warm damp pockets between it and the wood. What little moisture gets between the plastic and wood, will "breathe" out through the wood. (Water vapour is smaller droplets than liquid water, so waterproof does not mean nonbreathable.) Obviously, you only cover the wood - you must leave the bottom of the bed uncovered to drain freely.
If the truth be known Manda, you can get it all wrong here and now, and you will not care really. Some fine sunny day next spring you will be out with a paintbrush, that's all. Just try not to give the slugs a hidey hole.

[susiewoosie]

What about lining it with weed control fabric. It will keep your soil in but let the water drain through. Or are your beds on soil?

[womble]

Danish oil is food safe and non toxic. But I don't use it on my worktops like you are advised, I use tung oil which is brilliant, but maybe a little pricey for putting on raised beds outside.

[Two_Sheds]

It's got 15% off at B&Q at the moment too. £16.13 for 2.5ltrs.

Yikes!
I pay £4.99* for my Cuprinol Garden Shades (the shed in my avatar is Iris, and I've just bought Sage for my other shed)


* in QD / Cherry Lane garden centres, though it's bound to be available elsewhere too

[Two_Sheds]

Buy some linseed from a health food shop, boil it up water it down a bittie, paint the resulting gloopy linseed oil onto the pine. It will help protect it from the elements and all sorts of nasty bugs and critters. .

Raw linseed oil takes weeks and weeks to dry. The normal sort you buy (called boiled linseed - although it's not actually boiled) is mixed with Turps to make it dry quicker.

It's a finish, not a waterproofer. http://www.handafc.com/documents/Lin...0817160824.pdf

[snohare]

I stand corrected, Two Sheds, it certainly does look like it needs dilution with meths. Ta for posting that info, the door has swung open for me on what was previously a keyhole peepshow ! (I am growing linseed this year and use it constantly in my food, so all very pertinent and useful.)

[manda74]

susiewoosie
"What about lining it with weed control fabric. It will keep your soil in but let the water drain through. Or are your beds on soil? "

My beds are on soil. I think i will just have a look round the shops and see what i leave with

Yes Snohare that was my head exploding , Thanks for sharing the price of your paint though two-sheds will have a look for that.

[pollyskettle]

Yikes!
I pay £4.99* for my Cuprinol Garden Shades (the shed in my avatar is Iris, and I've just bought Sage for my other shed)


* in QD / Cherry Lane garden centres, though it's bound to be available elsewhere too

Blimey - that's seriously cheap! Had a look and the nearest to me is Rotherham so I shall have to see if the OH can wangle a job out that way (He's a plumber, but normally only covers notts/derby!).

Thanks for that, I'd never heard of them before.

[DavidM31]

Just wanted to say "Thanks!" to Storming Norman. I've been trying to remember the name of that bloomin' paint for a couple of weeks now and you've solved the mystery.

I want to paint my shed in stripes of beaumont blue and country cream - like a beach hut

The neighbours will think I'm potty, but hey-ho! I might paint the new raised beds (when they get built!) in wild thyme, we'll see.

Edit to add: It's got 15% off at B&Q at the moment too. £16.13 for 2.5ltrs.

You can also buy it in Wilkinsons for about £8 a tin, £16 is waaaay to expensive pollyskettle.

I would definitely paint it inside and out with something oilbased as suggested,it will last much longer.

[pollyskettle]

You can also buy it in Wilkinsons for about £8 a tin, £16 is waaaay to expensive pollyskettle.

I would definitely paint it inside and out with something oilbased as suggested,it will last much longer.

Thanks - do they do it instore as online they only have 1ltr of country cream for about £7.20.

Can you tell I don't get out much?! In my defense the area I live in is quite rural and I have never learnt to drive