Raised Bed: What to put at the bottom?
sooby77
13 years ago
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randy_coyote
13 years agoannpat
13 years agoRelated Discussions
stones at the bottom of a raised bed?
Comments (3)I have a lot of raised beds I grow on material that will eventually be bonsai candidates, and I've found that once the plants are established, the plants don't shrink with the soil unless they're tiny little things. I've started hundreds of cuttings and as the soil settles, the plants stay at the same level, but the roots become exposed - which is no big deal, physiologically, only esthetically. I would start topping off with a mix of something that has a considerable mineral fraction in it, like sand or very fine gravel, Turface ...... My raised bed soil is a combination of pine bark, reed/sedge peat, sand, Turface, and compost/composted manure, and it is FULL of life - extremely productive. The larger the organic fraction, the greater the shrinkage. Using conifer bark as your organic component will slow the breakdown of the organic fraction considerably. Each year, you can top off with a mix of bark/sand/Turface/other mineral amendment and soon your shrinkage will be minimized. 75-80% mineral and 20-25% organic is still a highly organic RB soil. Al...See MoreWhat to put in a raised bed.
Comments (10)I have found kimmsr's info about clay to be very true. We have very dense clay around here, so raising beds was my best option over the short term. I put some pine bark fines (very fine mulch) in my beds, then added our clumpy, sticky clay, then another layer of mulch. I let it sit for a few weeks until the clay was rendered "mixable" by the even moisture level it attained when mulched. I combined it well with a garden fork, then added in some compost and other good stuff. Clay and mulch made up the bulk of the mix, and plants have done very well in it. Now, two seasons later, earthworms and cultivation have turned it into very nice, friable soil that bears no resemblance to its humble beginnings as mid-Atlantic clay! In Arizona heat, I would imagine the water-retentive qualities of clay would be a plus? If money is less important (and the idea of filling that much volume with potting soil makes me think is may be), you could just hit up a local garden center and buy bagged or bulk mixes. I have found raised beds to be rather forgiving of different soil compositions due to the drainage you get above ground level. This post was edited by jadie88 on Sun, Apr 13, 14 at 6:56...See MoreRestoring a potager/raised beds -- what to put in aisles?
Comments (1)Brick paths and tamped down gravel will both work well, if you fix the leaking beds...other wise, you'll have a real mess, especially with the gravel. I have grass for my paths, which work out very well and they're softer for the visiting nieces/nephews. When I water the garden, I water the paths, so they don't take much extra work, just a quick mow, once a week. Here's a few pictures of my garden...and if you look online at potagers, you'll find lots of ideas. Check out Jennifer Bartley's potager, to see bricks in a beautiful garden. Here's a link for more information :) Here is a link that might be useful: An American Potager...See MorePutting raised beds on concrete, Greenhouse on Concrete
Comments (13)it's past summer, but i'll add my 2 cents, may be for next year will come in handy. how about using cinderblocks or pavers with holes in them to allow for drainage - use them as a bottom layer to support the box. then fit inside window screen netting or perforated metal grid to retain the soil . and then put a layer of argi-cloth, permiable, for drainage. it'll prevent buggies from crowling in thru the bottom too. when soil is on concrete, doesn't it stain it? if you use pavers, the soil will remain cooler too and drainage is much easier....See Moresooby77
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