Question

Hi guys need some advice please. my OH has made a veg patch frame, do I have to line it with weed control material before I put soil and compost in? Thanks

Answer 1

No, just put some cardboard on the bottom. By the time it degrades the grass will have died x

Answer 2

I’d recommend it, or at least take the top layer of grass up

Answer 3

I would.  

Answer 4

Aye or dig the grass out deep

Answer 5

We laid cardboard at the base of ours and it seems to have worked well.  

Answer 6

Thanks everyone I haven't any cardboard as the bin men took it on Thursday but got plenty of weed control material so I'll try that x thanks again x

Comments

@deodar16762 sure will PM you x

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@outbalance169 thank you  

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@outbalance169 interested to see too please  

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@mulcahy280 ok x

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@outbalance169 thanks lovely x

Answer 7

I would line the sides to protect the wood dig the grass out

Answer 8

If you put weed membrane down then the roots of what you plant wont go very deep. Just turn over the grass and it will be fine  

Answer 9

Please make sure its deep enough if using anything with canes xx

Comments

@perak Matthews I've put the sleepers on their sides so its higher as wanted to grow green/ runner beans but if it's not high enough I did grow some a few years back in big pots i have? Xx

Answer 10

I would line it. You can use an old tarpaulin or some such thing if you have it. Just make sure there are a few drainage holes.  

Answer 11

Rake off the grass that's in there 1st t&an double layer of weed control, some rubble or gravel before the soil

Answer 12

Take top layer off dig it over then what I did mixture soil compost manure

Answer 13

Also line the back of sleepers with some visqueen or they’ll not last very long

Answer 14

Put weed membrane down and make it fit over the wooden sleeper edges. Then when its filled with earth you can trim the membrane back, this will protect the sleepers .  

Comments

@simulacrum Brill thankyou, I'm thinking of sanding and varnishing/ painting the sleepers with the fence paint I've got as this would protect them too I'm hoping? X

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@sportsman your welcome. Hubby made me a huge raised bed thats 2 and a half foot off the ground and has a false bottom so less soil needed to fill it. Plus he put a plank seat on so i able to sit

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@simulacrum that's a fab idea I do struggle with my back quite alot so that would be a help x

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@sportsman same here. We used old scaffold boards. For the size of your bed it wouldnt take much to raise it up on legs and put a false bottom in to save bending

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@simulacrum I've still got two sleepers left so may try that x

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@sportsman i think we used osb board , which we painted with fence paint a couple of times to protect. Good luck

Answer 15

My husband made us raised beds last year. I lined them both with black polythene sheets and a staple gun, then pierced the bottom for drainage. We then filled with soil, rotted manure and compost. Worked a treat.  

Comments

@innis57 Watts thankyou I'll definately try it x

Answer 16

Cardboard on the bottom

Answer 17

Where do you get sleeers please

Comments

@gaylenegayler hi I got them given a couple of years back of a friend but never had the time to do anything with them until now x

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@gaylenegayler mone bros do them good price

Answer 18

Put some cardboard down & newspaper wet it and then some straw/mulch and then your compost xxx

Answer 19

I personally would line the inside walls to protect them and remove the top layer of grass, it would give you more options of what you could grow over the years if you have the depth. it’s always best to rotate crops. looks fab though love it xx

Answer 20

I just turned the grass over and filled it up with soil/compost mix. Only thing I would do differently again is line the wood so the damp doesn't rot it.  

Answer 21

I would remove the grass & dig down into the ground, as depending on what your growing I don’t think this is deep enough Xx

Answer 22

Deffo do not line the bottom. Digging over next year will be a nightmare.  

Answer 23

Dig the grass out and line the sides of the bed and fill with compost.  

Answer 24

Cut the turf and turn it over it will die off

Answer 25

I lined mine with cardboard boxes great for worms and garden.  

Answer 26

I would treat the wood on all 4 sides with something that won't leak contaminants into the soil, leave it sitting on the top of the ground like that but dig the grass up and maybe even remove some of the ground under the grass depending on what the quality of soil is like. Here we've got clay so I would definitely need to dig down a bit more. If you've got actual soil - just remove the grass.  

Answer 27

My raised beds are 3 years old I put them on top of grass, I just covered the grass with newspaper and filled the raised beds with soil. I've not had any grass or weeds coming through at all.  

Answer 28

No u have to do the work. Pull the weeds out, check it daily and pull

Answer 29

My son built his with sleepers that I gave him, just fill up, I found weeds are just as easy to get out , have been in a number of years still in good shape, most of these sleepers have been treated, so no problems, the soil has not been looked after But with TLC, , it certainly bounce, s back again, so don't worry to much and enjoy,  

Answer 30

You dont need membrane just fill with compost and some feed u wont have grass come through wood that size wont rot in a hurry bit of wood preserver on outside and just down to soul line ive done loads never had issues

Answer 31

Take the top layer of grass off and line with weed membrane, otherwise you will find the grass roots grows up through soil and strangle the roots of your plants

Answer 32

Monty Don says 1/3 compost then 1/3 top soil then 1/3 compost to finish it.  

Answer 33

@sportsman, daughter dig the earth over n compost on top , I used wood stain on mine xxx

Comments

@shupe gonna use the fence paint I think so it all matches xxx

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@sportsman fab I’m going to run out ! Xxx

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@shupe I'll put you a tub on my b n q order next week to replace the one you gave me xxx

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@sportsman xxx

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@sportsman xxx

Answer 34

If you put manure in it don't grow parsnips this year they go funny.  

Answer 35

I would follow the no dig method. So no liner, leave the grass

Answer 36

I line mine with old soil bags to help them last longer.  

Answer 37

Dig grass out turn over. And top soil up with bit of compost. Job done

Answer 38

I have some of these if any body wants them pick up ellesmereport

Answer 39

Like a few have said, cardboard, wet it and put some straw down which will mulch over time. Will also pack it out a bit so you don't need as much more expensive compost/ soil mix

Answer 40

Yes! I have one too made by the other half. I used a weed barrier first. A felt one and then filled with compost  my veg are looking amazing! ❤️

Answer 41

A couple of layers of cardboard will do the trick and cheaper to

Answer 42

I would go for cardboard and some composted back at the bottom. Look up Charles Dowding no dig garden  good luck  

Answer 43

Line with damp proof membrane

Answer 44

I do these with the children at work and have done both methods. 1 dig the grass out, dig the soil, line with paper and cardboard then we put kitchen scraps like veg, grass clippings etc in and covered with a good mix of veg compost and well rotted manure. 2 same as above but didn't dig the grass. The results produced good results for both but found the carrots grew better and and heavy feeders in method 1. If you only have cheap all purpose compost that's fine for this season but you will need to add organic matter as the compost doesn't last long in my experience but will do well if you add organics to it. As for the sleepers. they will last mmm 10yrs+ with no treatment so wouldn't worry about that. Even if you do treat them they will still last maybe 1+ years more

Answer 45

Yep I lined all mine with membrane

Answer 46

Please don’t dig. more weeds, more work, lower yields, poor soil. Just lay cardboard (non glossy) down overlapping around 15cm. Then pile on compost and firm it up by standing on it. Search Charles Dowding on YouTube

Answer 47

Good advice Olly

Answer 48

We just filled ours with compost and top soil. Trying the “No Dig” method this year so just topped up with compost and covered until ready to use. Keeping the light out kills the weeds.  

Answer 49

You can lay cardboard on the base first - it will kill the grass.  

Answer 50

Just use a garden fork to turn over the grass as it will help deep rooted plants get to the good nutrients I wouldn't put any liners in just fill with a good compost and fertiliser

Answer 51

You could just layer it with cardboard then compost then top soil it’s called lasagna gardening xxxx

Answer 52

Personally, I'd cut the turf out & line with cardboard

Answer 53

Line it to protect the side and couple of holes for drainage and some stone to stop weeds

Answer 54

I lined mine with bubble wrap which stops it drying out and seems to protect plants in winter

Answer 55

The soil underneath your grass will be very rich in nutrients this is why farmers grow grass on there land Putting a weed membrane in is a waist of money as you will get weeds grow from the top Plastic liner will do more damage than good it will restrict roots hold tomuch water and rot your plants

Answer 56

Me personally would just get some pond liner or a similar sort of material and just glue is round the edge to protect the wood, of you just let it hang on the floor and not completely cover the bottom you’ll have plenty of drainage it’s mor logical to do that and that’s what I did with out planters  I just happened to have some sticks like shit laying about and used the glue gun, loads easier and just put it on the wood and smoothed it down and overlapped the edges it’ll just make the wood last longer  

Answer 57

Do not put anything! Is a big mistake! The new soil and the old need to be contact with each other couse the microorganisms and etc need to be get in the new one. Otherwise 2year later need change the soil for successful harvest

Answer 58

Don't do anything to the bottom just dig over add compost, soil water retaining granuals blood, fish, bone feed or very well rotted manure and plant your veg

Answer 59

Yes u do

Answer 60

Make sure u mix the soil with manure!  

Answer 61

Did the grass out mate trun soil over and out nice fresh soil in there u can us manure but i havent this year

Answer 62

Monty Dom made one on Gardeners' World on Friday and he just filled it over the grass.  

Answer 63

I would

Answer 64

Noooo, you need drainage, just fill with soil, plant your seedlings and weed as necessary as weeds pop up

Answer 65

I always put cardboard in the bottom and just under the wood

Answer 66

I’d turn the grass then put soil straight in

Answer 67

If you have any brown cardboard to hand you can lay this on the bottom then cover with compost. The grass will die off and feed the soil and card will compost down  

Comments

@siracusa3123 Jammy - yes I put cardboard in the bottom.  

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@siracusa3123 Jammy and wet the cardboard thoroughly first  

Answer 68

If it hasn't been said before, I'd line it with plastic (sides too) and then fill it up. They don't last as long without some sort of protection from permanent damp.  

Answer 69

Use the bag the compost came in

Answer 70

Card board and manure . And get a no dig book by Charles dowding or watch his you tube Chanel

Answer 71

No it will dry out too fast if you line it.  

Answer 72

Monty Don demonstrated this on TV last week and he poured compost straight onto the grass for drainage.  

Answer 73

About a million ways to do it, just fork up ground you've got add more soil and plant stuff don't over complicate it

Comments

@pierrette221 exactly x

Answer 74

Made our veg patch last week & added compost & top soil straight in without lining as apparently it’s better for drainage

Answer 75

Line it with cardboard and fill with compost. Digging over increases weeds.  

Answer 76

I'd just line the sides and under the wood but leave the rest uncovered

Answer 77

Thankyou everyone for your comments and advice I'll post pics as I'm going along xx