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Re: building raised beds & filling them

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

> It happens that we just built 8 boxes in the past couple of weekends, so I
> have a few tips on things NOT to do:)  The first 4 we built were made of
> cedar to go in a front yard area.  The last 4 were pine for a side yard
and
> we wanted to keep the cost down.  I would definately in hindsight use the
> more expensive cedar for all the boxes.  It was amazing how warped the
pine
> boards were, even though we handpicked them and tried to get only straight
> ones.  For the cedar boxes we assembled with wooden stakes in the corner
> (about 4" going below the frame to anchor into the ground.  Used the same
> method with the pine boxes, but for some reason it worked beatifully the
> first time, and lousy with the pine.  Maybe we got unlucky.
>
> I would guess that a post sunk on the inside would work just fine as long
> as you anchor it tightly with screws to pull the board in.  I was amazed
at
> how much I coulf "fix" with a handy Makita power screwdriver.  Many of the
> slight warpages shaped right up under the power tool.
>
> We're filling ours no-till/lasagna style with a layer of newspaper on the
> bottom, and then whatever mulching layers are available for free from
> municipal composting and a local barn (bunny and goat manure!) with a
> topping of nicely shredded leaves that some misguided person tossed onto
> the municipal pile.  Imagine shredding your leaves, and then just tossing
> them away?
>
> Regards, Laurie
> Wappingers Falls, NY

   I just built a few myself.  I used roughcut hemlock lumber to cut costs.
A piece of old bedrail angle iron and two c clamps helped hold the corners
till I got them fastened with selftapping screws and pipe strap around the
corner for extra support.  Used 1*6 boards for 4*4 beds with two inch
screws.  I don't think they will go anyplace.  Twist wasn't a problem but
then the boards haven't seasoned either.


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