[DD.]

I stop things getting into two full size plots where needs be. I have no beds whatsoever and don't have half the problems you keep posting about.

Are you sure you're not keeping the pests locked in and their predators out?

[hubballi]

For instance, I am making raised beds from house bricks. If I want to stop slugs and snails getting in the beds I will put something on the edges as a barrier. It's easier than on soil.

[DD.]

What about those that live in the soil?

[hubballi]

You make sure they are not in the soil before you build one 

[mumofstig]

You'd need a very fine sieve to make sure the soil was slug free 

[DD.]

They's still tunnel their way in after that!

[mumofstig]

they may be being built on to concrete - that'll take them a bit longer 

[hubballi]

Have you not heard of nematodes ? Of course raised beds are not 100% but they will give much more control than normal beds.

[Doddy]

2nd'd with nematodes - expensive, but will largely eradicate slugs for a growing season.

Re. bricks... take care - my wife adopted a 1/2 plot with "beds already established" - from brick outlines. Once the bricks had been in the ground for a few years they'd become soft and porous, and started to disintegrate. Obviously engineering bricks would last a lot longer, but some bricks certainly aren't suited for continuous use below ground.

They all came out.

[Yana]

I waited for a certain well know DIY chain to sell their decking boards half price and then went and got a load. Painted them with Green wood preservative (plant friendly) and make the bestest raised beds you can imagine. Well, not raised as such, but they divide the plot up really nicely and the paths between are old paving slabs and wood chip. I even kept my eye out for the next half price offer and built proper raised containers that are 1.2m x 1.2m x 60cm. Lined them with plastic to stop the wood rotting and have been filling them up with waste and last year grew great pumpkins and spinach in them. They have settled a bit so will keep topping them up and will grow pumpkins and maybe butternut squash this time.
I have been trying to get hold of scaffold boards but they are either really expensive or I'm too late when they are offered through freecycle or preloved.

[sunshineband]

Because the raised beds are easier to control slugs and snails as opposed to standard.

No one has told the critturs on my plto about that  :blink:

Tbh I do disagree with you Hubbali, because raised beds actually provide some nice extra little hidey holes for slugs and snails, and those that live in the soil flourish rather well too