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Landscape Design New England Gardening Design Dilemma

Replacing hillside wooden framed garden beds?

2 years ago

At our house in northern NH, looking to do some upgrades! There's a terraced garden made of wood beams that's been there many years but it's falling apart/rotting. Do you have any suggestions for what to replace it with? We're going to renting while we're not there. Looking for something that has a nice aesthetic but is relatively set it and forget it. Maybe could be used to grow with, if we ever move in more permanently but in the meantime doesn't need to. Be willing to spend a bit more if it looks good and has some long term durability

That's from the driveway looking up at the structure, it's on the side of a hill

Maybe portions can be salvaged

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Comments (7)

frankielynnsie
2 years ago
The least work in the long run would be to bulldoze the whole thing, remove soil and grade to a manageable slope. Or you could professionally install landscape block/poured concrete with facing walls after doing your due diligence on which block will work (not buckle) and last for this area. Is this across from the house or is the house above the retaining garden?
pricklypearcactus
2 years ago
A professional landscape company could install lovely stone wall terraces or boulder terraces. It wouldn't be cheap but the end result could be stunning. If it's in budget, I would start with some professional landscape companies.
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I use untreated basic 2x12 recycled boards. Redwood and cedar is preferred as it will last much longer. The op mentioned her untreated boards are already purchased and built, so no going back. The parafin treatment is safe and will extend the life of your beds, but untreated will last 4-8 yrs on average depending on your soil and how well it drains. I have a few beds with soaker hoses lining the up-slope inside edge so they do stay a bit damp. I believe i'm near 20years since i built my garden and have replaced the beds each once. Seems every spring at least one needs changing, but not all at the same time so it is not a chore. One i took out completely as the fruit trees shade that area now, but it is now a nice shady spot for a couple chairs/table. (earlier it was very hot mid day). I did learn about the parafin method years ago, maybe in OGmagazine but did not bother as my boards are free. My peas trellis is rips of clear redwood and on its third year, also recycled. I previously used bamboo. Very strong and no signs of breaking down on the ends that are deeply pushed into the soil. So you have the choice to just move ahead either way. Just consider a better rot proof material in the future when you need to replace or if you add any more beds. I noticed you are in NJ. I'm in NY close to north NJ and we do have wet springs but frozen winters will slow the breaking down process a bit.
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I wouldn't worry about the leaves if you are going to cover them now. They will just decompose and go back into the soil. As far as fall planting, as long as you get things in the ground a bit before your usual freeze date, you shoukd be fine. I am zone 7 and i have planted as late as November here. Spring blooming bulbs must be planted in the fall. They need the cold period in order to bloom. I would put my perennials in at the same time. If I were you, I would put things in around the end of September/beginning of October, but check with your local nursery to be sure. Giving plants that start in fall is actually preferable to putting them in in the sring when the heat of summer can be tough on them. I don't know where you are (I am in northern VA and lived in PA most of my life) and you may not have the hot, dry summers we usually have. The rain and snow in fall and winter offer welcome moisture for the transplants. Good luck. Be sure to keep us posted with your progress. It is going to be so beautiful! I keep trying rhododendron here, but haven't been as successful as I was in PA. I do have two that are hanging in at this point. Keeping my fingers crossed. Edited to add: everyone here will tell you that preparing your beds is the most important part of gardening. They are right! It is so hard to be patient when you are starting out and eager to transform your space, but it will be worth it in the long run. Unless, of course, you already have that wonderful rich black soil that is the envy of those of us with Virginia clay! :)
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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
2 years ago
I'm not at all convinced there is enough of a hill to need terracing. This is a hill.
I think you can get an idea of how steep this slope is. It is unmowable (they imported goats for a few years) but stable.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
2 years ago
I don't know what your budget is or how handy you are but I have to agree on the stone wall terracing. But then, I'm a sucker for stone walls anyway!

:)
Dee
Andrew Becker
2 years ago
Great ideas folks - I like the look of the terraced stone walls. Would composite simulations of stone retaining walls be less labor intensive to implement? Anyone have any brands they like?
decoenthusiaste
2 years ago
Likely renters will not be as interested in maintaining it, so I'd make it into a pleasant berm with interesting ground cover and some strategically placed perennials for color.

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deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
2 years ago
The whole New England area, but especially ME, VT, and NH, look best with stonework, which is so natural and abundant in the area. Fabricated stone or blocks just look out of place. But, stone costs a FORTUNE. Even though they often get it just down the road, it's expensive and the labor for a TRUE stone mason who knows how to place them can be significant. Do not let just anybody put stone up. The dirt behind the stone wall will be exerting pressure, and somebody who doesn't know how to build so it is truly stabilized will leave you with a wall that will last many years, but not enough. After ten years, sometimes much less if the work was bad enough, the wall will start to lean forward.

That's a long way of saying one thing--if stonework is out of the budget, I'd really explore the suggestions here to get rid of the terracing and grade to a slope, and it looks like the slope would not be steep and unworkable.

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