Raised bed photos

[jayjay giant]

Now that looks smart !
Thats the sort of thing I am aiming for as and when finances allow.
I am really impressed. Any chance I could pop round and have a look I only live In Wolverhampton !

[mbronco27_03]

JayJay, no problem, come along if you want, it was hard work, and Im proud to show it off, To be honest, it didnt cost that much, I can give you a break down if you want, the timber for the raised beds cost me about £35 from a timber merchant, got the non toxic tanalised rough sawn wood, I then cut to length and fixed, painted all of them to give them extra protection, used cuprinol, one tub, so about £5-10. fixed into the ground, by digging hole, then backfilling. put down weed mat which was 20m lengths, bought 2 from wickes, at £4.99 each, then 2tonnes of 20mm gravel from Travis Perkins, costing I think £40-50 a tonne
I bought a bale of straw from a local stables, costing me £2.56, and they also do 2 year old horse manure for free, you can collect and doesnt cost, or for a delivery of 2 tonnes, he said he will charge me £20 for delivery

[mbronco27_03]

Oh I forgot, the copper adhesive tape cost me for enough to do 64m worth, to cover all 4 raised beds about £24.50 from ebay

[OllieMartin]

Oh I forgot, the copper adhesive tape cost me for enough to do 64m worth, to cover all 4 raised beds about £24.50 from ebay

Does it turn green when it oxidises? And if so, does it continue to deter slugs afterwards?
Looks like useful stuff, I may have to line my beds with it. Looks far easier than the gutter pipe & spray-on cooking oil technique that I've read before.

[mbronco27_03]

I think it will turn green in time, but so far mine hasnt, but mine went on in about May, so probably by next year it will do, but it doesnt stop it working. The way it works is that there is a property in the copper that reacts to the slug / snail slime, which as they move over it, creates a static charge, which is akin to you putting your tongue on the end of a live battery. It wont kill them, but is very unpleasant, so they turn around and wont cross over the copper. I never had any slugs or snails cross over mine, few came up through the ground, but they only travel short distance, and as i had 1 metre of stones and weed mat before they got to my raised beds, i managed to keep out most, so def worth investing in some copper banding!!

[jayjay giant]

Copper strips sound good. I have just got to make sure there aren't any slugs in there to start with ! Ha Ha Ha

Jayjay

www.m6jd.co.uk

[mbronco27_03]

well there are always ones in the ground, snails i think, that will come up, i got over this by putting down blue pellets, which dried them out and killed them, they go back under ground and die, but none came in over the boards!!

[jayjay giant]

Nice one, I have moved the chicken run round so that they are running over the summer raised beds from now until march ! Hopefullt this will clear out any hiding slugs , snails , bugs etc and also give me a fresh load of fertiliser to dig in come the spring.
Trying to get a lot done in the garden while I am looking for work. Hopefully to make it easier for next year !
Thanks for all your advice

[mbronco27_03]

No problem, always willing to help. I have created a blog, still in the editing phase, but got some pics on there, you might like to see!

[mbronco27_03]

The blog now up to date, check it out for pics

[Bigmallly]

Great photos Stu, you must be the tidiest gardener I know...............

[Eco-Chic]

Excellent blog and pics Stuart. I'll be following it with interest. You've managed to make the veg garden look very formal and attractive.

[jayjay giant]

Fantasic work Stu. It looks really smart and productive. By keeping it like this I find you can get a far greater yield per square ft !
Well done.
I will have to take some photographs of my winter move around.
I wil be following your blog too.
Keep up the good work !

[mbronco27_03]

Thanks Jay, I will keep the blog updated as I can, will be tidying up the veggie area soon, as covered in leaves, and need to dig it over, get rid of weeds, and then start building my greenhouse and fruit garden, will keep you posted!