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Raised bed query

I've built seven raised beds out of discarded decking boards and I put a heavy duty landscaping fabric underneath (apparently it lets the water through it) and I filled them full of compost and horse manure. I'm hoping to grow fruits and veggies in them this year however, I planted out some rhubarb crowns today and I just didn't feel as if the bed was deep enough and when the rhubarbs root I'm worried they won't be able to grow in the beds properly :( I'm now thinking that I should cut a cross shape inside each bed to enable root growth to the soil below but I wanted some advice before I go hacking away with the Stanley knife.

Any advice would be greatly recieved.
House renovation savings £25,000/£25,000
Emergency fund £1000

When you hit rock bottom the only way is up!

If you believe in yourself you can climb mountains
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Comments

  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,421
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    I'm not sure why you would have fabric underneath as it might restrict worms as well as roots. I'd use that to suppress weeds in the paths between the beds, but there is no need for it under the beds.
  • ljonski
    ljonski Posts: 3,337 Forumite
    The fabric i assume is to restrict weed growth in the bed. all you have to do is google how much root depth you require for rhubarb.
    "if the state cannot find within itself a place for those who peacefully refuse to worship at its temples, then it’s the state that’s become extreme".Revd Dr Giles Fraser on Radio 4 2017
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,551
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    bambos wrote: »
    I've built seven raised beds out of discarded decking boards and I put a heavy duty landscaping fabric underneath

    Rather strange thing to do in a raised bed. :(

    You are going to restrict root growth to whatever depth of compost you've added.
  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,421
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    ljonski wrote: »
    The fabric i assume is to restrict weed growth in the bed..

    but weeds are not going to come up from below the bed
  • bambos
    bambos Posts: 284
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    The surface area was covered with landscaping fabric prior to the raised beds being built, I've simply laid a raised bed frame on top of the landscaping fabric and filled it with compost and manure.
    House renovation savings £25,000/£25,000
    Emergency fund £1000

    When you hit rock bottom the only way is up!

    If you believe in yourself you can climb mountains
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,551
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    bambos wrote: »
    The surface area was covered with landscaping fabric prior to the raised beds being built, I've simply laid a raised bed frame on top of the landscaping fabric and filled it with compost and manure.

    By doing it that way, you have limited the amount of soil available for the plants you want to grow.

    If the beds are half a metre or so high, that shouldn't be a problem.

    If they are 15/18cm, your plants will be adversely affected.
  • bambos
    bambos Posts: 284
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    Here's what I did

    <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=259hmky&quot; target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/259hmky.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>[IMG]http://<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=259hmky&quot; target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/259hmky.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>[/IMG]
    House renovation savings £25,000/£25,000
    Emergency fund £1000

    When you hit rock bottom the only way is up!

    If you believe in yourself you can climb mountains
  • bambos
    bambos Posts: 284
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    Mojisola wrote: »
    By doing it that way, you have limited the amount of soil available for the plants you want to grow.

    If the beds are half a metre or so high, that shouldn't be a problem.

    If they are 15/18cm, your plants will be adversely affected.

    Thanks, I think I will cut out the bottoms in the beds that way the roots can go deep
    House renovation savings £25,000/£25,000
    Emergency fund £1000

    When you hit rock bottom the only way is up!

    If you believe in yourself you can climb mountains
  • casey
    casey Posts: 150
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    I agree with the previous posters. It is not needed under beds but beneficial on pathways around them, cut them out. Happy growing !
    Casey
  • no1catman
    no1catman Posts: 2,972
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    The use of 'raised beds' allows you to put a fixed area where you are going to put certain plants. You can put bark chippings between them, gives you a weed free pathway, and stops your footwear getting clogged up with earth.
    Also, you don't have to bend down as far as you would with out them.

    When I had a new greenhouse to replace the old one, I laid a pathway using old bricks, on the edge of which I embedded planks - held in place with stakes. It enabled me to raise the soil level - with several bags of compost - much easier to work with.
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