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Raised beds - help?
Comments
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PVA - as well as MDF will just absorb water like billy-o. It is not water resistant.
PVA is a SEALER, it repells water at least the stuff i have used does, its not all the same apparently.
I have used it in damp aquatic environments for over 20 years suscessfully. I fully agree it will only delay the inevitable with MDF however it would still help.0 -
alanobrien wrote: »PVA is a SEALER, it repells water at least the stuff i have used does, its not all the same apparently.
I have used it in damp aquatic environments for over 20 years suscessfully. I fully agree it will only delay the inevitable with MDF however it would still help.
Depends on which type, general use PVA will just absorb water back into it again, as it is a water soluble substance.0 -
Hello All
Now the worst of the winter weather is over (we hope) I'm starting to think about getting my greenhouse up and runing and raised veggie beds built !
(Definately want raised beds due to dog and chucks!)
A couple of questions have got me thinking so would appreciate any advice.
Firstly what type of sleepers should I use - can I use the cheaper option which may be tar coated and line the inside of the bed with a plastic sheet so it doesn't contaminate my veggies?
Or
Should I opt for the 'new' sleepers that are tanalised - will this be safe for veggies too?
Secondly - what depth should I make the beds ideally, I'm aiming to have a beginners veggie patch which will definately grow spuds - not sure what depth they need to be.
Thirdly - Anyone know of a good supplier in the Northamptonshire/ Warwickshire area? Or that has reasonable delivery costs.
There - think that should do it, any help would be greatly appreciated !!
Many thanks in advance!0 -
Hi, can't help you with the timber question (although I'll be interested to see the answers as I want raised beds too!) but have you thought about growing spuds in black bags? I use rubble bags as they are a bit stronger, poke a few holes in the bottom then earth up every few days. The bags help to warm the compost, keep the squirrel, slugs, etc out and prevent any weed growth so minimal care.0
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When I made some raised beds a few years ago I tried to get the "best of both worlds" with regard to sleepers. The local supplier to me sold "used" sleepers which were cut down the middle so you ended up with 2 sleepers - both 8 or so feet long but only half the thickness. I then used these to build beds with the cut side of the sleeper on the inside and the tarred side out.
I reckoned that by doing this I got a clean(ish) face to the soil so there would be minimum contamination to the soil and veg whilst benefitting from the weather protection that the tarring provided on the outside. And it worked...
...However, one or two downsides - the beds did look a bit ugly and the tar did tend to stick to your hands, your children, your cat etc etc....
Hope that helps
MC0 -
Ask a local scaffolder if you can have some flawed planks. Once the beds are down they don't look that different, plus they're pressure treated with no nasty chemicals to leach in. And the price is right too
as I've found scaffolders are happy to give them to you for free (and even deliver them if they're passing) as otherwise they would have to pay for disposal. Worth a thought, anyway.
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I used some very cheap left over decking planks from our local timber merchant. That was almost 10 years ago and they've lasted extremely well and are much easier to install than sleepers as they are so much lighter.
Like the scafolding planks option too.:j Go on, shake your money maker! :j0 -
I'm wanting to build a raised bed to start putting in the Veg I'm going to grow. The borders of the beds are quite expensive to buy and I'm not loaded with money so want to find a cheaper way to build my beds.
I've just read a article about Lasagne Gardening to do with making your raised beds and how to go about it. It seems straight forward and all I need is compost and some horse manure to go on top of the leafs and layered newspaper. If I can get hold of it too using straw would be good also.
After that I will then be looking to get some frames to build cloches to cover the plants and protect them from pests and other things. This will be another cost and if anyone has ideas on how to do this cheaply please say.
:j0 -
I scavenged pallets out of skips on the roadside and cobbled raised beds out of them.
The park is a good way of getting free compost, just go down with a carrier bag and fill with leaves, dig leaves into soil to enrich when preparing the beds.
I tend to find things all over the place, bits of chicken wire, a plastic tub with a hole in etc.. all lying in the street free for the taking. Its amazing what you can find, think outside the box and be creative, gardening is a great way to recycle and use up all sorts of stuff.
Another tip is to keep toilet roll insides to use as plant pot to start seeds off in the spring.
Good luck!Save £12k in 2012 no.49 £10,250/£12,000
Save £12k in 2013 no.34 £11,800/£12,000
'How much can you save' thread = £7,050
Total=£29,100
Mfi3 no. 88: Balance Jan '06 = £63,000. :mad:
Balance 23.11.09 = £nil.0 -
ive read here someone suggested using scaffolding planks. they cant be used once they have a slight fault for health and safety reasons so maybe phone round a few local companies from the yellow pages. you might get some free or fairly cheapWhat matters most is how well you walk through the fire0
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