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raised beds

• Message 1. 

  Posted by jenni16 (U15170021) on Friday, 2nd March 2012

  I am planning to make some raised beds on the allotment that i have recently taken over. We have also dug out a base where the garden shed is to be erected . Can i use the soil we have dug out to put into the raised beds, some of it is quite heavy clay ,should i put some thing else in there.
  I am a newby but eager to get on with things .It is a steep learning curve for me . One more thing ,should i cover the ground with something where the raised beds are going; there are quite a few low growing weeds there.
  Jenni16

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Friday, 2nd March 2012

  Jenni16, depends on how deep your boxes will be, if the normal six to eight inches high then put the membrane down and some of the dug out soil mixed with sharp sand and some grit, you can buy both in bags from GC's, make sure it is washed sand.
  If you are putting in waist high boxes then wasting good soil in the base would be silly, you need some rough stuff in the base for drainage and the good soil on top of that.
  You will not have gone too far down digging founds for a cabin so the soil though heavy will be perfectly OK and if mixed with sand and grit will be better draining.
  The idea of raised beds is you do not have to walk on them and compact the soil.
  The beds will need a single spade dig over in the Autumn after the growing season where as some heavy soils at ground level need double digging to get some goodness deeper down.
  You will probably get plenty of advice from other allotment holders on the site, they will know the site and what is possible to grow, as with any advice listen and use the relevent bits.
  Frank.

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  Posted by jenni16 (U15170021) on Friday, 2nd March 2012

  Thanks for the info , much appreciated.We will be using used scaffolding planks so the beds will not be very deep, so will do as you advised.
  Jen

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