Best way to achieve cheap raised beds

puddy

We are planning to grow veggies this year but have a small garden. So we are happy to either grow in pots or build some raised beds, and get the soil and compost new.

We have a dog and the previous owners of the house had a dog, so we dont want to use anything at ground level or old soil.

The areas to grow in are going to be 260cm x 220cm , then 180cm by 208cm, then 220cm by 260cm

we want the growing areas raised to keep away from doggy doos

I also want the garden to look attractive so OH's suggestion of putting everything on pasting tables has not gone down well, however, we want to get the beds made very cheaply (not including the soil), what should we look at, pots on bricks, or wooden beds (for cheapness)?

the vegetables we are going to grown in the back beds, are potatoes (in sacks), climbing french beans, courgettes, salads (although my preference is at the front for these), onions, cucumbers, jerusalem artichokes

thanks

alanobrien

i would go with decking boards, or reclaimed scaffold boards from a local yard if you can get them. Both are cheap to buy and will make for reasonably attractive looking raised beds if you work at it a little.

PeteW

Scaffold boards do look like they would be ideal, I'm just trying to find where I can get some! Anyone know anywhere in Surrey that supplies them?

WestonDave

Obviously if you can get cheap scaffolding boards then so much the better. I did mine 12" high from 6 Wickes 6ft gravel boards (cost about £18) plus 4 of their 18" "pegs" (i.e. ready sharpened on one end) which come to about £7.50. (you might get one 40mm fence post cheaper and cut it down). Cut 2 gravel boards in half to make 3ft lengths, then nail/screw 2 short gravel boards to 2 corner pegs to make the short sides, and then add the long ones for the long sides to give yourself 3ft by 6ft beds.

They do supply 8ft versions which might work better given your plot sizes, but the key thing to remember is not to make them too wide as the whole point is being able to reach to work them without stepping in - 4ft wide is absolute maximum.

RHYSDAD

I'm going down the route of scaffold boards. I bought 10 x 3m lengths from my local yard for £2 each. I have 2 confirmed offers of free topsoil (but also getting a quote to buy reasonably good grade for growing) so a cheap way of getting started:

Pete W: Gemini Riteway will sell boards and possibly the Gatwick depot may be your closest?

http://www.gemini-riteway.com/gatwick.htm

Or just pick up the yellow pages and ring your most local yard and ask, the worst they can say is no.....


Good luck!!

RHYSDAD

jenner wrote: »

We are planning to grow veggies this year but have a small garden. So we are happy to either grow in pots or build some raised beds, and get the soil and compost new.

We have a dog and the previous owners of the house had a dog, so we dont want to use anything at ground level or old soil.

The areas to grow in are going to be 260cm x 220cm , then 180cm by 208cm, then 220cm by 260cm

we want the growing areas raised to keep away from doggy doos

I also want the garden to look attractive so OH's suggestion of putting everything on pasting tables has not gone down well, however, we want to get the beds made very cheaply (not including the soil), what should we look at, pots on bricks, or wooden beds (for cheapness)?

the vegetables we are going to grown in the back beds, are potatoes (in sacks), climbing french beans, courgettes, salads (although my preference is at the front for these), onions, cucumbers, jerusalem artichokes

thanks

Remember though that you'll need to rotate your crops to avoid diseases and pests building up:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/soil_plot_rotation.shtml

Also a very short guide on building raised beds:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5154323_raised-bed-vegetable-garden-design.html

amongst many others on google etc....

PeteW

RHYSDAD wrote: »

I'm going down the route of scaffold boards. I bought 10 x 3m lengths from my local yard for £2 each. I have 2 confirmed offers of free topsoil (but also getting a quote to buy reasonably good grade for growing) so a cheap way of getting started:

Pete W: Gemini Riteway will sell boards and possibly the Gatwick depot may be your closest?

Thanks, I've emailed them and will see what they say.

With regards to 'local yards', what kind of 'yards' is it I should be looking for? I'm not sure what to search for!

RHYSDAD

PeteW wrote: »

Thanks, I've emailed them and will see what they say.

With regards to 'local yards', what kind of 'yards' is it I should be looking for? I'm not sure what to search for!

I just looked up scaffolders located near me and rang them up and asked! No special secret 'yards'!!!

Just google 'scaffolders' near your postcode and call them.............

PeteW

RHYSDAD wrote: »

I just looked up scaffolders located near me and rang them up and asked! No special secret 'yards'!!!

Just google 'scaffolders' near your postcode and call them.............

Well that was easy - first one I phoned was happy to sort me out with some 13 footers for a pound each!

Only problem is I need to work out how to transport them! I don't think my car boot is quite that big!

RHYSDAD

PeteW wrote: »

Well that was easy - first one I phoned was happy to sort me out with some 13 footers for a pound each!

Only problem is I need to work out how to transport them! I don't think my car boot is quite that big!

Nice one! A doddle see, never hurts to just ring up and ask!

PeteW

Did anybody who went with the scaffolding board option ever work out an affordable way of transporting them? I'm thinking I'm just going to have to turn up with a saw and chop them in half, which is a shame as unchopped, they would do the long side of my patch in one board.