Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: lordthanatos on August 16, 2011, 15:53
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Hiya
im thinking of using gravel boards to create my veg beds
is there any other material etc you guys would recommned.
im not going for raised beds, otherwise i would use something more sturdy , but just so i can lay down woodchip paths around them?
thanks all
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Many of our members use gravel boards to edge their beds as they seem to be the most economical. They won't last as long as preserved wood, but still do the trick.
If you have the money, you can also use pressure treated wood. In the past, their chemical preservatives were toxic, but now the ingredients have changed and are safe to use, and they last longer.
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gravel boards are usually sold already treated in the UK ;)
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B&Q had an offer on decking boards earlier in the year about £2.90 for 8ft length.
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We have used decking boards, bought when B&Q had a special offer on some time ago.
Works just fine.
(Couldn't source any cheap gravel boards at the time -- someone on our site has recently got some from SCATS)
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I built some raised beds a couple of years back with decking boards, and they've done really well. However, I would quite like to have more depth in a couple of them. If I put a second row of decking boards on top and joined them with something like wooden batons, do you think it would be strong enough and likely to retain the weight of soil ok?
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It would work but I'd recommend those batons every 2 ft as well as every corner. Wet soil can be sneakily heavy.
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While I'm not going to use boards , I'm digging separate beds on 'Patch Growster', so that I can take advantage of getting round the new, whole plot easier.
This has come from advice and chat here, so everyone here is responsible if it goes wrong...which of course it won't! Up to recently, I would never have dreamed of separating the beds, it's just that the good guys and gals here say it works, and I can be easily swayed!
And I dug the seventh of thirty-four this morning, and therefore have done another four sq yds...
Expect to finish by end November!
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While I'm not going to use boards , I'm digging separate beds on 'Patch Growster', so that I can take advantage of getting round the new, whole plot easier.
This has come from advice and chat here, so everyone here is responsible if it goes wrong...which of course it won't! Up to recently, I would never have dreamed of separating the beds, it's just that the good guys and gals here say it works, and I can be easily swayed!
And I dug the seventh of thirty-four this morning, and therefore have done another four sq yds...
Expect to finish by end November!
Told you before Growster -- their old name is lazy beds :nowink: :lol: :lol:
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Yes, you mentioned that KC, and I was impressed, that was very helpful advice!
It seems that one end of the patch was better maintained than the other, and today's digment was on the 'nice' bit, and pretty easy!
Further down though, the couch has got a toehold - even a foot hold, maybe an elephant's foot-hold in places, and takes much longer!
Unfortunately therefore, I can't do a 'lazy bed' because couch just loves to lie in wait for next year...
And anyway, it keeps me fit as well!
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Couch is indeed a beast to reckon with, Growster ???
But what a sense of achievement when reckoned it is :lol:
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KC, you are an enlightened gardener!
I just look at each new piece to dig, and say sodit, we're nearly there, well, may be in a few months time...!
But digging is a necessary business, it has to happen, and I can't visualise just spreading compost over the beds - yet...!
But, after listening to the great folks here, I may just change my mind!
I've found today, that I can Canterbury hoe each new bed (now getting a bit weedy with thistles etc), from each side, and a whole new way of gardening is on the cards!
Fantastic!
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Some would say less enlightened than wanting the easiest life in the end :lol: :lol:
Compost spreading is good on some beds, but not all.
When you have your growing plan sorted so that you know which crops will follow on where, then there is some extremely useful and succint information on rotation plans here. This helps you put compost in the right place at the right time
http://www.allotment-garden.org/articles/Planning_the_Plot.php
You might know this already Growster but lots read these threads so .... here it is. :D
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Always a good idea to keep these sorts of items near the top of the posts KC, as they can be easily read on a regular basis without too much searching.
I like to see them as a reminder as well...
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I quite often have a peruse --- surprising what you have forgetten, or of course find out :nowink: