looking for raised beds ideas, sizes, materials for my sideyard
Ruchi Oswal
4 years ago
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years agoRuchi Oswal
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Raised garden bed material..wood or plastic?
Comments (13)Hi Harvey Horses, I had the same question at first, but here is how two 4 x 4s equal a 4 x 12.....You can lay it out with matchsticks to see the visual if you want. A 4 x 4 uses four sides, a 4 x 8 uses 6 sides. A 4 x 12 uses 8 sides. Two 4x4 kits contain 8 sides. in other words: both of the 4 x 4s have four sides, but you don't use the fourth side when you stick them together. You are just using three sides of each (U shape to U shape). That leaves you two extra sides and you stick those in the middle and the 4 x 4s now equal 4 x 12. I am not that handy, so trying to build these myself is not impossible, but I will spend a lot of time trying to save a little. I might even have 10% off coupons to save even more if I buy the premade stuff. Melikeeatplants...good idea. I will check craigslist. I want to use things that don't have bugs or diseases in them, so I would have to figure out a way to clean used boxes. But, still, I'll look. Maybe someone has a new one for sale? I am definitely leaning toward the wood. If they don't last forever, that's ok. I can replace them later. I'm not that thrilled with the plastic versions. I too am afraid of stuff leaching into my soil. Thanks everyone who mentioned that. fyi....if anyone is looking into the "frame it all" kits I discovered that if you wanted a large garden, DO NOT buy the large kits they sell. You will save a lot if you buy enough smaller kits to make them as large as you want. For example, 4 of the 4x4x6" kits will make an 8x8x12" garden, but the 8x8 garden can cost up to $450...and 4 of the smaller kits can be purchased for as little as $160....See MoreRaised beds? Trellis? Any ideas, advice?
Comments (5)Welcome alaskanamazon! Well, I rememeber seeing once someone from Alaska making use of some old floor freezer/fridges as raised beds. I remember them saying that because the raised beds heated up quicker than the ground that they could grow their veggies sooner than most. I'm sure you could find and old rusted out car, take the wheels off, cut the top off and fill it with dirt. An old kayak/boat would work as well. Some peopl ehave used canes to make trellis'. I think an old spring mattress (no fabric or stuffing--just springs and frame) would make a FANTASTIC one standing up on end and/or propped up against a building. I have used wooden ladders as well. Hope this all helps you! Loev, Jules...See Morebest idea I've read, for raised beds, from recycled car tires
Comments (11)yeah, it's in my favorites, too. I e-mailed the same person who is responsible for the study of the tires used in the gardens. To his knowledge, there hadn't been any danger and if there was a possibility of snakes wanting to make a home, there would be a few things to counteract it. If you choose to pile the tires for planting, then the inside could be lined to discourage any snakes trying to get inside. Check any and all tires before even beginning to use them. See, I wouldn't have had that concern because we only have little garden snakes around here. In eastern Washington, there are rattlesnakes but I'm on the west side of the state. It isn't the dry flat lands of the desert type of land. Anyway, check tires. Then choose how you plan to use them. The way I want to do is to use only the actual part of the rubber that touches the road. Everything else is cut away. It leaves strips of rubber to work with. The same idea used to make sandles. When the rubber is in these strips and laid out, they're stapled to pieces of wood at intervals, to make a continuous runner, to be set in place. The length, width and height are all a personal choice. Basically, instead of 2x4's running the length of the planting bed, it's flat rubber. One tire width or more high, to make the border around the planting area. That's how I have intentions of using them. I can't imaging a snake wanting to cozy up to that. I think if I had any snakes around like you do, I'd be gardening inside a warm sunny vault of some kind. No way would I be outside any where near that kind of critter. Hope you still try the tire frame beds....See MorePerfect Raised Beds-My idea
Comments (3)I think the advantages are: (1) IF you have very poor drainage and frequent rains, the taller bed will dry out more quickly. (2) IF you are gardening over a non-soil surface (or due to restrictions are not allowed to go into the soil, as was the case on an Air Force base where I was stationed), then the deeper bed will allow the garden to include the deeper-rooted plants. (3) Even a normally agile person is going to find a taller bed easier to reach. -------------------- In other words, you're correct. A 2' bed is not necessary in the majority of cases. The next time I make beds though I would like to go 12 - 18" tall using poured concrete, possibly even insulated concrete forms, and include a seat around the top edge for more leisurely gardening. If we end up staying at this house, I think it is wise to plan for being able to comfortably garden when I'm 50, 60, 70, and on......See MoreBrown Dog
4 years agoRuchi Oswal
4 years agoRuchi Oswal
4 years ago
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