[exvmremf]

Hi All,

New to the site so please bear with me if I am going over old ground.

I've had an allotment for some years now although I do struggle to get there as much as I would like.

I have decided to have a go with some no dig raised beds (Partly 'cos the effort of preparing the ground and keeping the mares tail at bay is totally demoralising).

I have made the boxes from 5/8ths Ply which I have treated and I intend to lay some thick cardboard down followed by some horse manure (or 'oss muck as we call it in North Yorkshire) topped with compost.

Has anyone tried this method and if so are there any tips that would prevent the usual disaster happening.

I will be setting up 4 boxes 8' x 4' x 7" high.

[oldbean]

The ply layers may separate with the wet.

[sunshineband]

We used decking planks for the sides of our beds

[exvmremf]

Thanks guys,

What swung it for the ply was that it was free.

If it is successful I will be upgrading in a year or two.

[Yorkie]

Good luck - just be aware that marestail can penetrate concrete, so your extra depth in your raised bed will not present much of a challenge to this pre-historic plant ... 

[iwantanallotment]

Hello exvmremf and welcome to the forum 

There is an excellent example of 'no-dig' gardening on the 3-DVD set "The Allotment", whereby an entire plot is cultivated this way - much as you have suggested, in fact.
It's very interesting and I'm tempted to give it a go next year too, in the 'no man's land' part up the top of my garden.
(If I can find the link to the DVDs, very kindly posted by a fellow member here, I'll re-post in case you're interested  )

Here you go : http://www.allotment.info/

[yummy]

A guy on our site built raised beds and covered the paths with weed matting and cobbles but the mares tail just continued up   If that is the only reason for building em then I personally wouldn't bother, however as the owner of 9 raised beds I would recommend them for lots of other reasons.

[exvmremf]

Thanks to all for the replies.

The mares tail is just an occupational hazard on our plots so I am trying the beds for a number of reasons.

The DVD sounds interesting, might give it a go.

I'll keep you posted on the success/failure through the year.