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Post by binnylou on Sept 3, 2019 2:29:11 GMT -5
pepperhead212, if you haven’t yet filled your raised bed with soil, consider putting a brace in the middle, connecting the two long sides. This will help prevent bowing of the long walls of your raised bed.
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 3, 2019 8:52:52 GMT -5
Or if you have, pepperhead212 and want to brace the boards you could pound in rebar stakes on the outside (see my pic at top of page 5) . I'm 10 years in with that bed and it's still strong and stable. Your new bed looks great!
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 3, 2019 11:01:21 GMT -5
Thanks desertwoman. I was planning on doing that, but on the inside, with some pipes I have (which I'll have to cut), and put some of those straps I have for attaching metal conduit. I have to do it before I add much more to it, so one of those jobs for today. Plus, I might have to get more of those straps, as I'll need the larger ones, and I never used much of that. Still too sunny out there. Maybe I'll check, and see what I'll need, and go get it now!
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Post by martywny on Sept 3, 2019 12:09:24 GMT -5
consider putting a brace in the middle I just started reworking my raised beds this weekend, putting in braces and adding hardware cloth to the bottoms.
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Post by binnylou on Sept 3, 2019 12:19:11 GMT -5
The three raised beds built last year, using the hugelkulture method, still need more soil. I've been thinking...just thinking, about moving the soil from #2 and/or #3 to those beds to top them off. Then...I could put logs in the bottom of beds 2 and 3. I have to decide if I have the energy for such a project. Then, I'd have to find filling material for 2 and 3. I have "some" compost, but not that much. I haven't shared this idea with hubby
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Sept 3, 2019 15:19:18 GMT -5
I'm glad this subject was raised. binnylou , I remember when you were planning and assembling your Hugulkulture beds last year. What are your thoughts about this method now? Would you use it for all your raised beds? Thoughts from anyone else? (I have a LOT of little sticks and small branches. The bigger ones are already set aside for my wattle fence. There's also a lot of drier material from the weed cutdown, and the trees are already dropping their leaves.)
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 3, 2019 15:28:39 GMT -5
Here's the brace I put on the one side. I had to push the stuff out of the way to snip the hardware cloth - I guess I should have done that first! Brace inside of the long side of the raised bed. by pepperhead212, on Flickr I had one 3' pipe, and one 4', but not nearly enough straps. The 3' pipe barely pounded in far enough, which is good,so I just bought another 3' pipe, then used those plastic thread covers on the ends, so I won't rip my skin on them doing something in the ground.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 3, 2019 16:26:18 GMT -5
I got more of the soil into the bed, on top of the branches, and all that. I had to stop and take a break - that was definitely the hardest part of it. After I eat, I'll continue. I'll have to touch up the edges with stain, once I'm finished filling it, as I'm banging up the finish on it. That's my last concern, for now!
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Post by binnylou on Sept 3, 2019 16:58:30 GMT -5
Would you use it for all your raised beds? The only bed that I'd not consider doing the hugelculture method is the one that I have reserved for root crops. I do think it has helped with modifying moisture needs but each year is different.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 3, 2019 19:15:19 GMT -5
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 4, 2019 16:03:15 GMT -5
I just dug out those hoops, that I made a mini hoophouse with several years ago, to get greens well into the winter. They fit almost perfectly: Hoops fit almost perfectly! by pepperhead212, on Flickr I got a little more soil into the bed today. Now, I'll have to put the topsoil in. I still have a couple weeks, as the greens were just coming up today.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 5, 2019 14:55:07 GMT -5
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Post by martywny on Sept 6, 2019 6:34:27 GMT -5
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Post by martywny on Sept 6, 2019 6:39:17 GMT -5
- What would you say the advantages are over using a mix of compost/manure and soil?
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 6, 2019 9:08:32 GMT -5
That heavy rain last night leveled out the soil in my bed really well Isn't it great when Ma Nature lends a helping hand!
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