Raised beds

JOG · **Posted: 05-03-2010 , 05:07 PM** #1

Am installing some timber raised beds soon. The area I plan to place them in is covered with gravel which is on top of black woven membrane. I plan to scrape away the gravel, so the beds are resting on the membrane. My question is: will the soil leach out under the boards? Do I need to line the beds to stop the soil vanishing? Would prefer not to line if possible so would very much appreciate any advice from anyone who has done this before. Many thanks
JOG

maggied · **Posted: 05-03-2010 , 05:10 PM** #2

hi , can't help with your question but i am going to watch this thread as i am thinking of doing the same , and would love any tips on what to plant for beginner , sorry if i'm butting in on your thread jog
regards
maggie

lislaw · **Posted: 05-03-2010 , 06:35 PM** #3

I've never lined my beds and I've never noticed any soil leaching out. However, I dug a shallow trench around the outer edge of the beds and place the boards into it. I don't know about a gravel base. I suppose it would depend on how dense the gravel is? If it's loose it'd just be like a base to the bed, but if it's hard packed then you might have an issue with water and soil run-off.

MuddyWitch · **Posted: 06-03-2010 , 10:17 PM** #4

We've use raised beds both in the garden & on the allotment & on both occasions they were on compacted clay soil. We just lightly forked the soil before placing the bed timber down. In the garden we had no 'leakage' as it was fairly level, but at the allotment we had slight leakage due to the badly uneven ground. We solved the problem by adding slivers of marine ply inside the main frame where it was bad.

We also put membrane down between the beds and topped this off with bark chippings as paths.

Hope this helps

MW

JOG · **Posted: 07-03-2010 , 05:22 PM** #5

Thanks very much for your comments MW and Lislaw. I suppose it would be different if your beds were laid on soil rather than membrane? I really don't want my soil escaping from the beds - it's too precious, and would also wreck the gravel area.
Maggie, no problem with butting in. Lots of things are easy to grow, (spring onions, lettuce, tomatoes, mange-tout, carrots) but make sure you grow stuff you like to eat. I grew parsnips for years but the satisfaction in growing them never made up for the grief I got when I tried to make my children eat them!

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	Posted: 05-03-2010 , 05:07 PM #1
JOG Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 31	Raised beds Am installing some timber raised beds soon. The area I plan to place them in is covered with gravel which is on top of black woven membrane. I plan to scrape away the gravel, so the beds are resting on the membrane. My question is: will the soil leach out under the boards? Do I need to line the beds to stop the soil vanishing? Would prefer not to line if possible so would very much appreciate any advice from anyone who has done this before. Many thanks JOG

	Posted: 05-03-2010 , 05:10 PM #2
maggied Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cavan Posts: 244	raised beds hi , can't help with your question but i am going to watch this thread as i am thinking of doing the same , and would love any tips on what to plant for beginner , sorry if i'm butting in on your thread jog regards maggie

	Posted: 05-03-2010 , 06:35 PM #3
lislaw Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath Posts: 512	I've never lined my beds and I've never noticed any soil leaching out. However, I dug a shallow trench around the outer edge of the beds and place the boards into it. I don't know about a gravel base. I suppose it would depend on how dense the gravel is? If it's loose it'd just be like a base to the bed, but if it's hard packed then you might have an issue with water and soil run-off.

	Posted: 06-03-2010 , 10:17 PM #4
MuddyWitch Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dromahair Co Leitrim Posts: 40	We've use raised beds both in the garden & on the allotment & on both occasions they were on compacted clay soil. We just lightly forked the soil before placing the bed timber down. In the garden we had no 'leakage' as it was fairly level, but at the allotment we had slight leakage due to the badly uneven ground. We solved the problem by adding slivers of marine ply inside the main frame where it was bad. We also put membrane down between the beds and topped this off with bark chippings as paths. Hope this helps MW

	Posted: 07-03-2010 , 05:22 PM #5
JOG Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 31	Thanks very much for your comments MW and Lislaw. I suppose it would be different if your beds were laid on soil rather than membrane? I really don't want my soil escaping from the beds - it's too precious, and would also wreck the gravel area. Maggie, no problem with butting in. Lots of things are easy to grow, (spring onions, lettuce, tomatoes, mange-tout, carrots) but make sure you grow stuff you like to eat. I grew parsnips for years but the satisfaction in growing them never made up for the grief I got when I tried to make my children eat them!