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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jul 1, 2024 7:14:55 GMT -5
Has anyone tried these? I have a bed that has a wooden perimeter and it is about ready to be replaced. The wood is rottinf after 10 years. Thinking how to replace it. I see some with bottoms and most without.
With a bottom I would think holes would need to be drilled through for drainage. But they would keep the moles and voles out. I am not sure if harware cloth be used at the bottom. Without the bottom they are cheaper. Some have an edging around the top to prevent injury.
What other measures need to be addressed?
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Post by martywny on Jul 1, 2024 8:24:47 GMT -5
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 1, 2024 9:16:58 GMT -5
Although I used to edge my beds with wood, I gave up on raised beds when the wood rotted out. I now edge beds with discarded bricks so I can run the mower wheel along them when mowing the paths and keep the mowing straight. I can see them for decorative plantings or on the driveway/patio or for disabled gardeners who can't bend down. Other than that, it's usually an unnecessary expense. I use growbags in the driveway. They are cheaper and easier to move around.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jul 1, 2024 21:23:20 GMT -5
martywny , does this have a bottom? I figure I wouldn't need them until fall after the harvest season. Tomatoes, eggplant and cucumbers in the bed presently. Have you had then through the winter yet? Wondering about the ground within freezing. gardendmpls , yes I have difficulty bending down. I use a chair to do much of the gardening
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Post by martywny on Jul 2, 2024 4:50:11 GMT -5
No bottoms in these, I usually put hardware cloth under my beds. These beds flex, so no damage from frozen earth.
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Post by gianna on Jul 3, 2024 23:37:07 GMT -5
I purchased 2 metal raised beds (large ovals) about a year ago on a whim, on an insanely good sale. I haven't put them up yet, but I have more than enough old planting mix to fill them. I plan to use a hardware, or similar wire bottom. Maybe even large tiles if I have enough. The plan is to use these for flowers in the front yard. Zinnias in summer, snaps in winter. For the main veg garden I do not use raised beds with sides. I have good deep soil so no need really. I have had raised beds in the past, and with no summer rain, they tend to dry out unevenly, and corners tend to make hiding places for bugs and other critters. And if you ever do get a gopher that you want to trap, the sides of raised beds just make it very frustrating. These are the ones I got. Bottom of the barrel, and probably won't last long. Mine are 8 ft long by 3 ft wide, one foot high. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5WNZ21J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
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Post by binnylou on Jul 4, 2024 1:29:54 GMT -5
I bought the Vego thru Amazonโฆ8โ x 2โ x 17โ in a deep green color. This one doesnโt have a bottom, since Iโm using grow bags in them. I was going to put down hardware cloth and set the bed on top, but thought that approach might be a toe ripper. So, I put down MoleMax and cardboard to control grass/weed growth.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jul 7, 2024 7:23:32 GMT -5
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 7, 2024 9:31:45 GMT -5
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Post by gianna on Jul 8, 2024 12:54:53 GMT -5
lilolpeapicker , I really like the look of the light green color on the ones you are considering. I had been thinking of painting mine because I'm not crazy about the shiny metal look in the front yard. The only paint color I have in abundance is a darker purple acrylic, which I think would also look nice. I had thought about a green, but would have to buy that. The place I'm going to put one of them is in a bed with good enough soil, but one where gophers chronically live. I've decided to line it with wire and around the edges, I have enough tiles to make a good gopher seal with the edge of the metal, but with no pointy wire edges (folded under). I doubt if that will slow the drainage, but even if it does, here that's a good thing. The amount of mix that it takes to fill these things is significant. Fortunately I have many, many 15 gallon pots half full of used mix to use. Plus decomposed city mulch. I used to garden in a lot of big pots in areas with not good soil, or on slopes. It was a pain in summer to keep them moist. I might start assembly later today.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jul 8, 2024 14:22:46 GMT -5
martywny , gardendmpls , gianna , The first one has 4 rods placed inside the frame to help stabilize and support the sides. I like the lighter green as well. I may set 1 of the frames on a cement walkway. I could get rid of many of the grow bags I have been using as some growth is popping through the sides of the bags from breakdown occurring over time. I have around 20 all together. But I will not get rid of all of them. The old wooden bed frame is deteriorating but there is hardware cloth under it so will need to see what condition it is in. It's been there 6 or 7 years.
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