PAVING SLABS/ SLEEPERS

[margyf]

Hello me again

I am in process of tidying up my new plot I was just at the plot yesterday noticed lots of people had there plots in fairly good order by use of raised beds.

I was wondering is this the easiest way to manage a plot and also where can I get hold of durable weather resistant slabs and sleepers to carry out such a task

At the moment im digging, weeding etc and it still seems a mess  :-[

[margyf]

[markfield rover]

Raised beds were the best thing we did ,but we leave some areas without  for potato, runners  etc. Watch sleepers if they are treated on a hot day the pitch is nasty, untreated are good but I think expensive. We managed to find a load of ex-roof timbers for free,you may find old scaffold planks which builders cant use when split ,shutering (sp?) from timber yards is quite cheap, once you start looking around for stuff it is amazing what you can find including skips.

[Old bird]

Hi Margyf

The raised beds are the way forward.  Any timber is good!

I have got the remains of a roof (only the rafters) and loads of other wood some 10" wide X 2" thick other bits are weedier but still good!  I wouldn't go the sleeper way unless you are loaded with money and intend to live for the next 100 years to get your moneysworth!  They are hugely heavy and it is not necessary to have such weight unless you really want them that is!

Certainly makes life easier for weeding and not digging just forking over in spring!

Good luck with yours!

Old Bird

[sazhig]

For slabs I would recommend your local freecycle group. I got 22x big paving slabs through my local group last year....took a whole evening going back and forth in our car collecting them as the car's suspention could only take a few at a time...but well worth it!

[goodlife]

I have got a lot of slabs by putting word around "willing to take away"..there is so many households around who just want to get rid of them when they are doing home improvements. I also rang around suppliers and got lots of seconds for very cheap price..
My raise bed are made of curb edgings(..another unwanted lot.. ::), kept upright with metal spikes from army surplus..
I think when you start allotments you soon learn to peg, borrow and swap...all neighbours and friends are trained to contact me before paying a visit to local skip to get rid of any usefull things.... ;D
It is unbelievable how much good and usefull stuff is thrown away... :o
I'm not quite in "Steptoe and son" level yet... ;D

[albacore1854]

I'd just carry on digging it.For the time you spend collecting scrap timber etc, you would have it nicely dug, and in better condition.

Think of the exercise.

Digging is hard to begin with, but it does get a lot easier with time.The key is doing it regularly,and pushing yourself that little bit harder each time.Before you know it you'll be up on 5 rods a day.

[kt.]

I use 3x2ft slabs to make a main path running up the main central axis of my plot.   I then use standard patio slabs as runners off to the side which divides the beds.