Raised beds using sleepers - how wide?

ginvzt

Ok, so we got all the trees out in the garden that we wanted, and we are left with a bit more work to do before I can get on with making my raised beds.

I have a space along the fence, about 9 metres, all the way to the corner of the garden and then probably another 2 metres from the corner ("L" shape). This is going to be my vegetable patch, and I also want to put some of my fruit trees in this length.

So, I was going to make 1 bed of about 1x2m along the short side of the "L", and then probably 3 beds along the long side of the "L".

The width along the long side that I can have is maximum 1.2m, as we have to paving slabs at the beginning of this, and my original idea was to put the beds the full width. But - am I stretching myself to reach too far? I want to have as much space to grow as I can, but is it still reasonable?

We are considering using the sleepers, so they will take some space from the growing (I think it is about 10 cm width each, so out of 1.2 m wide bed, I have 1m left to grow veg).

I have attached a picture of one of the possible arrangements - the corner would be for the grape, so it can grow along the both fence panels, and then I would have 3 spots for the trees (I have bought dwarf apple, pear, cherry and plum). This is the South facing fence, so the best place I have in my garden.

Another option is to make beds narrower and make a narrow path along them, so I wouldn't need to trek through the soggy grass to reach my plants. For example, making beds 1m wide (giving 80cm growing space), leaves 20cm for the path. Just need to think what can I use to cover it, as otherwise I would be walking in the mud after it rains each time (we have heavy clay soil).

Linda32

Hi, it looks as if you've got everything sorted out well there.

The things I bear in mind is can you reach to the middle from either side of the beds, depending on how tall you are.

As far as paths go, we have slabs down on ours (allotment) we got them off Freecycle :T You might not want this in your garden. A prettier way is smaller stones and gravel or bark chippings with a very good layer of membraine down first.

ginvzt

Well, they are going to be along the fence, so there is now way of accessing them from one side, unless I hang from the fence! I am not tall, so there are things to consider.

OH would like the bed to go all the way, without breaking up, but then I want to put trees in there as well, so I think it is better if I break into 3-4 beds. Also, the garden is a bit sloping (higher at the back than at the front), so it would look better this way as well. I was considering even putting a small square around the each tree, which would not be 1m width, but maybe 0.5 x 0.5 or similar, and at the height of 1 sleeper instead of 2 that I was thinking for the beds.

Gravel and bark are both out, as neither me nor OH like them in the garden. SO, it is either small slabs, or nothing, I guess - or is there something else I can use?

Linda32

Hi, The tree idea sounds lovely. The sizes you are thinking of sound fine to me, you only need paths big enough to walk along.

Are the paths grassed at all, these maintenance to consider of course. But grass is pretty hard wearing.

Our veg patch is an allotment rather than a garden, so we can use things that you wouldn't ever consider in a garden environment.

RAS

Hi

Ideally you make raised beds accessible from both sides and approx 4 foot wide. the basic rule is to measure your arm length and make the bed twice that width.

ginvzt

Yes, the rest is grass. I guess I have to 'scale down' by bed sizes, unless I plan on climbing into them to plant/weed/pick up the vegetables.

Maybe we should go down to 90cm width bed, as I am sure I could work that width, and then put a path along-side. I guess that if I put a decking board there, it would go dirty/muddy quickly and very slippery in rain. Also, even if I just leave the 'dirt' path, it would make cutting the grass easier than if it was tight against the bed.

alleycat`

Looks lovely.

Only question i'd ask about the sleepers is what they are treated with?

Reclamation ones from the railways, etc might well contaminate the land and your veggies.

ginvzt

Yes, I know about the old ones, and I would go for the 'new' ones, that are ok for this. I had a chat with the guy who was removing our trees this weekend, and he suggested that the sleepers would look good there. He uses local supplier that he told us about, so we might go and have a look at them there. I would need to cut them to size, and I guess that would involve quite a bit of work!

Seakay

ginvzt wrote: »

Gravel and bark are both out, as neither me nor OH like them in the garden. SO, it is either small slabs, or nothing, I guess - or is there something else I can use?

You can use bricks to make a path
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20200448,00.html

You might also consider using some more sleepers, sunk or half sunk, to make a path, possibly with chicken wire over then to make them less slippery.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg2/flat/module3/path_basics1.shtml

ginvzt

Also, how much space would I leave in between the beds? 40cm? 50cm? more? These are the gaps where I would be planting my dwarf trees - they don't take much space, but I guess they will grow a bit over the years.

I know I will need to get some top soil - and a lot of it to fill the beds!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Cobblestones? Brick sets?