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raised bed help

13 years ago

Hi, all! I'm new to this part of the forum. We are closing on a new house on Friday. I want to have a garden. I found this but it only has a couple of reviews.

http://eartheasy.com/cedar-complete-raised-garden-bed-kit-8-x-8-x-20

It is only dh and I. So, I don't need to big of a space. We live in North Louisiana.

So, what are y'alls thoughts on this? Thanks so much!

Comments (11)

  • 13 years ago

    Clickable link.

    Pretty and I suppose it would be easy on the back. But it is quite small and very expensive. Plus you'd have all the cost of filling it with soil-less potting mix.

    You could easily build something 2x as big for 1/2 the price with just a basic knowledge of tools.

    Dave

    Here is a link that might be useful: Elevated cedar Raised Garden

  • 13 years ago

    I like it, would I buy 1 ? depends on where I would be using it, if I could afford it.
    Your going to be very busy with your new house for a while, maybe this could be a nice start for you.
    The reviews go back 1 to 2 years, why dont you try to send them a message and ask them how they like it after so long?

  • 13 years ago

    As digdirt stated. I agree.
    Last year I constructed twenty 4' x 4' x 10"-12" high.
    At that time I was able to purchase various length of 2"x lumber from home depot which they called cull lumber.
    They would sell it in four foot length. Then they changed that to buying the whole length of 2" lumber.
    They sold the lumber at an 85% discount. The raised beds I made cost just over one hundred dollars.
    Unfortunately they stop selling cull lumber. I believe that a mulch maker is taking it off there hands at little or no cost.
    I filled them with five yards of top soil at $25 a yard delivered. I actually had seven yards. it was alot of work with one 6cf wheel barrel. I used 4" x 4" for the inside corners.
    The tools needed would be a 7 1/4" circular saw, square, tape measure and a drill with Phillips head bit. use 3 1/2" screws

  • 13 years ago

    You may think that that looks big enough now, but if you take to gardening, you are going to want to expand over the years. Not only is that kit on the pricey side, it is not really set up for enlarging the garden. My first year's garden was a little smaller than that, and it doubled in size the second year and then more than doubled again the third year. (and there are only two of us to feed too).

  • 13 years ago

    ok, thanks so much for the replies! Dh also thinks it too small. I was mostly thinking it wouldn't break my back bending over. lol

  • 13 years ago

    Stick to a bed width of 4 feet or less so you can reach into the middle. Otherwise, you have to step in and compact the soil.

    Here is a link that might be useful: My raised bed garden

  • 13 years ago

    try to source second hand materials, also look for more affordable planting mediums, maybe you can source spent mushroom compost from the farm?

    fill the bottom of the bed with chunky tree branches 1st.

    Here is a link that might be useful: lens bale garden

  • 13 years ago

    I'm building a raised bed container right now myself out of 2x4's screwed into 4x4 posts. Paint the whole thing inside and out to protect the wood, and calling it a day. 10' long, going to make it probably 4' wide, 18 inches deep. Making sure to screw it together so I can put some potatoes in there, then at the end of the season just unscrew the boards and let the potatoes fall out.

    Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, some celery, whatever all strikes my fancy.

  • 13 years ago

    Mandolls is 1000% correct in the enlarging comment.
    Thats a given positive in any case.
    I started with 1 raised bed, not even realizing is was just that..
    Now I have 5 of them with 1 dedicated to rhubarb, the other for garlic.
    If I had my way my entire yard would be raised beds, however if I did that I wouldn't have a wife and would need to cook my own dinners

  • 13 years ago

    LOL, Japus!!

    Thanks for the pictures!

  • 13 years ago

    Your climate will not be kind to cedar, which simply rots slower than other woods, but still rots. You may want to look at composite decking planks (Trex, etc) which are termite-proof and will weather, but never rot. You can attach them with corner connectors, or hold them up with stakes pounded into the ground. I have had two sets, for two beds, for at least 12 years and they are dirty but as sound as the day I cut them to length.