I've just taken my first allotment, have cleared back the brambles and nettles from above the soil, had a big bonfire, bought a poly tunnel and now want to make raised beds in the next few weeks, have bought green manure seeds (winter mix) to plant in there to improve the soil.
I share the plot with a friend who wants to build the edges of the raised beds from breeze blocks but this isn't very appealing for aesthetic reasons and I can't help wonder if nasty contaminants might leach from the breeze material into the soil?
I'd like to use wood but my friend thinks this will rot in a few years. I had imagined scaffolding boards would be good.
Any thoughts on wood to use or other materials? I would rather use some kind of reclaimed material but if there is merit to buying a certain kind of wood new that wouldn't rot I would consider it a wise investment - pressure treated? creosoted?
Any advice greatly welcomed,
thanks
I do agree with you - I would not want breeze blocks - and unless they are dug into or cemented into the soil will be a pain and move around a bit whereas with wood you have a long run and no movement!
I don't know about the chemical angle of breeze blocks but again what is wrong with wood. I have bought pressure treated 3/4 inch thick wood - which maynot last forever but certainly does the job now and probably the next few years!
I also used second hand timber which was dumped and so although it looks a bit random some of it is 3" thick!!! by about 12" deep!!!
So I would use something that is not too expensive for now and if you decide to update this in the coming years all well and good or else if you decide that allotmenteering isn't for you or you want to move - then you haven't lost much!
Good luck anyway. Sounds like you have made a fair start on it!
Old Bird
;D
I don't have rasied beds, but i'd use used scaffolding planks. Lot's of people sell in on the net, or ebay. Only problem is delivery and maybe cutting it to size
We had the gas board doing some work outside our plots and some kids threw the red and white barriers over onto my plot - ideal - they don't rot ever and they are plain white on the other side.
Have since got some legitimate ones.
That sounds like a good idea! ourdai!
What always surprises me is all this recycled plastic is more expensive to buy in board form than wood or anything else. Something wrong there methinks!
O B
I made beds from 4x1 treated pine from a local timber merchant. See my gallery for an example. Spent about £70 on the lot I think. Quick and easy way to do it. treated pine (tanalised) is supposed to be good for 25 years.
Quote from: Psi on October 15, 2009, 13:03:52
I made beds from 4x1 treated pine from a local timber merchant. See my gallery for an example. Spent about £70 on the lot I think. Quick and easy way to do it. treated pine (tanalised) is supposed to be good for 25 years.
I love your beds!
Is there a reason for their shape, apart from how nice they look?
keyhole beds are that shape to allow access, usually.
tanalised timber is impregnated with COPPER, CHROME, and ARSENIC.
http://files.recycleworks.co.uk/files/Wood%20preservatives.pdf
and is not particularly well 'locked in' to the wood, leaching can (and will) occur, be wary when puting any poisons near to your crops which you feed to others. (it's up to you if you want to poison tourself)