Constructing raised bed with bottom to avoid root invasion
lwarren2
13 years ago
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sandhill_farms
13 years agogumby_ct
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Ideas for constructing vertical support in raised beds?
Comments (47)Here is a closeup of the panel at the very front of the garden (where I grow the cantaloupe & honeydew). I start with a standard bull panel (5' X 20'), which is made out of 1 gauge galvanized wire & has a 6” x 6” spacing. At the very top & bottom of each panel, I weld a section of #5 rebar to prevent any sagging/flexing. These panels then rest on top of the T-posts & are welded in place also. When the panels are all installed, I then install the insulated risers & sprinkler heads as pictured. This will allow for an unobstructed arc of water... and as you can see, each section is perfectly level & straight. While this may seem like overkill to some, I know that this setup will stand up to any strong winds that may be encounter during our growing seasons down here, even when being fully loaded with vegetation & fruit....See MoreRoot Barrier for Raised Beds
Comments (2)Cinda, You're probably gonna have some invasion from the tree roots no matter how hard you try. However, I've used both weed cloth and flattened cardboard boxes as root barrier and have found no real difference in them except that the boxes actually break down and improve the soil somewhat. I still get grass and other plants that try to break through the boxes. Have you thought about doing true "raised bed" gardening? My first SFG was up on legs and looked a lot like a pool table when I took pics of it....See MoreHow to build raised bed and avoid roots from maple trees coming in?
Comments (8)I have the same problem. I put thick cardboard under the bed and that lasted only 1 to 2 years and had to be redone. This fall and winter I am going to raise the beds up a little and put a bottom on the growing bed. It can be raised by putting cinder blocks, bricks or any kind of wood to raise the bed off the ground. I plan to use 2" thick by 12" high pine boards as a base. Then I will put the growing bed directly on top of the base. Since the base will not be in contact with the soil, I plan to use pressure treated lumber for the base. This will also raise the bed up a little so I don't have to bend over as far....See MoreTree roots in raised garden beds
Comments (20)If you are going to drill holes in plastic containers, drill them on the sides about a one up from the bottom. This will keep tree roots from coming up from the bottom, and let a little water stay in the bottom in the summer to soak back up, especially if you use peat moss. I have had trees roots grow up from the bottom and invade the entire pot. Also, if the pot sinks in the ground a little the inch above the bottom will allow for better drainage. May not work in the north where drainage is a premier, but in the south it has worked well for me. I have found that cutting the roots on the outside with a spade once a year works pretty well. If the garden is growing well that is all that matters. The annuals compete pretty well with the tree roots if you provide enough water....See Moreglib
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