What kind of wood for veg. raised bed? (grow, grass, weeds)

[redjan1225]

We used redwood. I'd say my soil depth is about 8-10", but my garden is raised to about waist height. It is about 4' x 6'. I thought a raised garden would be easier to tend to and keep the bunnies out of. The problem is that we tend to lose a lot of water. We currently have a mesh screen over the wood planks on the bottom of the garden and the water just flows right through. I definitely think a raised garden that is built right on the ground would be much easier to maintain.

[texdav]

Originally Posted by joe moving

I would use cedar.

Yep;8 foot cedar fencing with plenty of support stakes.Leave some outlets so it can drain well excess water.

[Phawk57]

Originally Posted by joe moving

I doubt you could buy lumber and hardware for $40. cedar is expensive. any pics of the sams club kits?

You can look at the stuff at www.greenlandgardener.com. What I got at Sams is the 42x84 bed which at this website sells for $72 dollars so I think the almost $40 I paid at Sams is a bargain.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by joe moving

I doubt you could buy lumber and hardware for $40. cedar is expensive. any pics of the sams club kits?

I built a 4' X 12' X 11.5" bed using cedar 4X4 for corner posts and braces, stacked cedar 2X6 for the sidewalls and installed a rim using cedar decking planks. My cost was about $100 including landscape fabric and the 4 mil liner I put in it to protect the interior. It wasn't exactly cheap (would have been a LOT cheaper if I used cedar 1X6) but it would have been a lot more expensive using composite decking or concrete block.

I really would have liked to just grab some FREE creosoted railroad ties, but the organic hippie monster put her foot down. Can't say that I have a really good argument against petrochemical/copper/arsenic leaching, though.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by redjan1225

We used redwood. I'd say my soil depth is about 8-10", but my garden is raised to about waist height. It is about 4' x 6'. I thought a raised garden would be easier to tend to and keep the bunnies out of. The problem is that we tend to lose a lot of water. We currently have a mesh screen over the wood planks on the bottom of the garden and the water just flows right through. I definitely think a raised garden that is built right on the ground would be much easier to maintain.

I would have loved to use redwood but it's pretty difficult to come by on the gulf coast.

[VintageUrban]

I have not seen these kits before. I have to visit my local hardware store now lol

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by VintageUrban

I have not seen these kits before. I have to visit my local hardware store now lol

I have never seen the kit anywhere but Costco and Sam's Club, FWIW

[Opyelie]

I just got 2 (the last on the shelf) circular raised bed kits from Walmart for $10 each on a "special". They're plastic/resin with hard plastic support stakes - measure 4 feet diameter and 8" deep and take quite a bit of soil.

I'm assuming I'll have to lay down some black plastic or whatever before I set it up.

[SD4020]

I think I'd use something like a trex decking or anything along those lines. I am thinking of building some window boxes out of that sort of composite for my house. They'd work good for raised beds too IMO. Use some post 4X4 for supports. I'd go every 4 foot on longer runs and one on the corners for the 6' across piece. But at 8" tall that it is easily supportable.

[Phawk57]

Originally Posted by Opyelie

I'm assuming I'll have to lay down some black plastic or whatever before I set it up.

You might want to lay landscape fabric instead of plastic because you want your soil to drain.