Raised Beds

[Palustris]

Barbara would likie any advice on making and using raised beds for growing vegtables etc. on a clay soil.
Tia.

[Palustris]

[ipt8]

Think of a sleeper and you have the height, about 8", but dont use old creosoted sleepers as they are messey in a hot summer and poisonous to plants, and not so good for people either.

Make the bed no wider than you can reach the centre from each side and as long as you want.

If your clay soil is horrendous get some soil or compost to fill the bed.

You could join the wood with lage nails or coach screws.

Good Luck

[Mr Smith]

Find a fencing supplier they have various  boards  which are suitable for raised beds  that's if you cannot find some scrap timber :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Don't make beds too long as it becomes a pain to walk round and you finish up walking across the middle. About 15 feet is comfortable; 20 should be a max.

[froglets]

The width should be twice the length you can easily reach from the path.  We used scaffolding planks that were scrapped off, but don't think they come up too often.  Ours are too long - Robert is right - I now have a plank halfway down so I can nip across when I'm working.

Cheers.

[manicscousers]

pallet wood

[allaboutliverpool]

Instructions are on my site

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Deep_bed_building.html