Garden Projects and Ideas - Gardening Forums

by **Lulu** » Apr 27, 2010 8:55 pm

Got the first raised bed finished, and am pretty happy with it. Decided the other two needed to be smaller, that is, 3 patio stones long, giving me a 4' x 6' instead of 4' x 8'.

Wow,,sure took a lot of soil and manure to fill this one. Will have to wait till the city starts selling the composted soil, @ $20. a tonne, and hopefully find a sale on the manure, to fill the other two.

Some of the patio stones are grubby, as they've been piled for 7 years, and my outside water is not on yet. Will power wash them, and, either paint them or put that plastic lattice on them, as I have a full 4 x 8 sheet, and a 2 x 8 sheet that I've also been hanging on to for a long time.
If I would have had to buy the stones, I would have preferred the reddish ones, but,,at least I finally found a use for these ones.

by **Venice** » Apr 28, 2010 1:28 pm

You could stain them. I think it would be better then painting. No chipping, just fading. And it would look more natural. I nice deep reddish wine would look lovely with the green foliage, or the lattice covered in sweetpeas. ahahha

What are you planting in here?????

Ven

by **B_BQ** » Apr 28, 2010 2:01 pm

Lulu:
I see you got the same hardware as I used for my raised planters! (Lee Valley).

When we did ours, 4 years ago, we piled a lot of stuff in the bottom first, rocks, leaves, lots of cardboard, (we'd just moved), and other bits and pieces. I don't think anything grows which needs that much root room! :wink:

I also lined the sides with landscape cloth before putting in the soil, so that the soil wouldn't leech out.

I have two, and used 20" x 20" slabs.

~BBQ

by **Venice** » Apr 28, 2010 2:19 pm

I've got to show these to hubby. I have just the right place for them, and way to get new patio stones and use my old ones for this ahhahha.

Ven

by **earwig** » Apr 28, 2010 5:43 pm

I like that idea. They do look great, both yours Lulu, and Brenda's. They would talke a lot of filling though. But once done, just a top up each year.

by **Lulu** » Jul 30, 2010 11:12 am

Ok, here's an update on my raised beds. They performed very well, for their intended purpose, that is, to give me more growing space, to hide my messy/utility areas and to keep me off my knees! Also allowed me to monitor my baby brugs a little closer.