Has anyone got a raised bed in their garden and if so what are the sides raised by - bricks, blocks (concrete) wood what?
And what sort of plants have you got in it?

Karen

I've got a bed set into a lovely slate wall my hubby built me, pretty deep and about 3' x 5' across, but it was only inaugerated last year so I shall be just as interested as you to find out what others are planting in theirs.  So far I have a selection of bulbs coming up, the usual stuff, crocuses followed by some rather nice variageted small tulips and then some 2 or three varieties of small daffs.  In one end I have planted a weeping, standard, acer about 3 foot tall, shouldn't grow any more in height as it is grafted but I hope it will fill out nicely in time.  Finally during the last summer, following the bulbs, I had bedding and trailing stuff, pansies, bacopa, labellia etc which was very colourful but it was left very bare and empty looking over the winter so I would love to hear what anyone can suggest as a more permanent base to add summer planting to.

railway sleepers are the easy way to do it! and the cheapest! hehe

My question is where does everyone get these railway sleepers from???????????

Yours sounds good Isabelle my one could well be about 3&1/2 wide by 8ft long and not sure about depth yet. Depends what I decide to use as a material to build it.

The great thing about raised (enclosed) beds is that you can change whatever soil type you have to whatever soild type you like!!

We are on a natural sandy heath-type soil, which drains all too freely.   By enclosing one bed completely (and raising it by about 3 ft) with old railway sleepers (an area about 15ft x 5 ft) we've got a really good ericaceous bed - so I've got azealeas (which wouldn't grow very well naturally here) with heathers.   I've also succeeded in putting enough muck into another bed in order to have a reasonably good rose patch - which again wouldn't naturally do well in our soil.   Again, we've used railway sleepers to enclose it.

We've also enclosed the vegetable patch ....but we've used a picket fence there - no veggies survived the games of chase enjoyed by the Thorsoak mob!!

Actually, I noticed today that Beau (Australian Shepherd) is either (1) trying to dig his way through to Australia (maybe I should give him "the history of the Australian Shepherd" to read) or (2) is trying to get a new name of Digger

Edited to say_ also using railway sleepers has made it nigh on impossible for Thor & Beau to kill plants by peeing on them (too high!)

Margot

I repeat where is everyone getting these railway sleepers from????????????????????????

Kazz - you work for B&Q {I think!} - ask the guys in the Gardening Dept where they suggest you get them!   You don't want to buy the new ones (too expensive) but one of them at least will know where locally you can get the old ones!

(I know where you can get them down here in Essex - but its an awful long way to pull them home for you!!!)

Margot

Ta Margot, There was me thinking you would chuck 'em over your shoulder and bring them down to me. ;)

Thank you Marmite :)   I was wondering what on earth do do with my stables !!!  They are built (ancient) from old sleepers on concrete foundations, I will be raising them to the ground next spring to make way for my (still in the planning stages) custom built kennels...... Now I have a plan (sort of) :)

some nice all year round plants are: Hebes, heathers, and I've got quite a few others in a raised bed around the pond but don't their names :rolleyes: I've also got winter pansies still in flower which I put in some time last year, miniature conifers (about 12" high in different shades of green) and trailing ivy in pots and hanging baskets :) My raised beds are brick built or broken slabs.

Dee

Kazz,
Bargin pages!!
Regards
Denese

Kazz
Builders Merchants. About £15 a piece. Or reclaim yards
VERY VERY Heavy!!!!
And you may have to ask around as the proper railway sleepers are no longer able to be bought. They can sell the surplus they have but are not allowed to buy any more in (EU regs!!)
The 'new' ones, ie meant to look like railway sleepers but dont!!! Are alot lighter but wont last half as long!!!
To keep them together use 'roofing ties' keeps them together and will last :D
HTH
Lea :)

Thanks everyone will have a look in BP Ta. Just off to move the slabs now.I ned more garden for plants.

Kazz Dont forget that a raised bed is likley to drain a lot faster than the rest of your garden so may need a lot more watering!

Excellent point I will incorporate it in with the drip/soak watering system Thanks

:O
Kazz!
*is Kazzie*

Kazz joined in 2003 - has notched up more than 3,000 posts...........think you've got a little way to go, Kazzie ;)

Margot

Nah I wasn't on about her stealing names or anything like that at all.
I was just all shocked and suprised!

I live to shock and surprise - seriously though Hello Kazzie.

Lol, I bet you do, in more ways than one!
Hi to you too Kazz :D