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Re: New Member w/Question About Concrete

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From: Bob McLain <mclain@voicenet.com>
> *1*
> I plan to use 8x16x8 blocks, with two blocks stacked atop one another.
> Since I want the blocks to be portable, I don't want to mortar them. Will
> they stay put, or should I anchor them to the ground with a stick or metal
> rod through the holes?

16 inches seems awfully deep for a raised bed.  If you were trying to get
the height up so that somebody in a wheel chair could reach it or so
that you did not have to bend over so much then two may be a good idea.
Or if you were gardening on a concrete slab and still wanted room for
deep veggies like carrots.

In my case my back yard is clay.  I installed 9 inch tall  (Didn't remember
actually had to go measure the height) wooden railing encasing an area
4 feet by 8 feet.  I then double dug down two shovel heads worth, probably
about 18 inches deep (give or take).  The act of double digging raised
the level of dirt by about 4 or 5 inches (first year) I then dumped on quite
a bit of compost (60-90 gallons) plus some ashes,  buckets of vermiculite
a bale of peat moss.  All these ammendments on top of the double dug soil
raised the ground near the top of the rail or 9 inches.  After a season of
gardening my beds had dropped back to 6 inches above the ground.
Every year I toss in 4 inches (or so) of compost and leaves.  And by fall
the level is back down to 6 inches.

16 inches deep would require (IMHO) a lot of filler materials.  I think
a single row of cinder blocks would be enough.  With only a single
layer you could just sit them down in a small trough (cut out the grass)
or perhaps a thin bed of sand, If you find your garden pushing the blocks
out you could reinforce some blocks with a stake on the inside.  I like
using rebar for stakes.  Its strong, at the rate it rusts it should last
my lifetime, and it does not rot.

My father in law has a compost pile on a concrete slab surrounded
by cinder blocks three high.  His are not mortered and he does
not have trouble with them falling down.

> *2*
> And is 8x16x8 the best size, or should I use a smaller block?

They make smaller blocks but I think the 8x8x8 would be annoying
and the 8x8x4 would be too narrow and would tend to tip over without
any additional support.

> *3*
> For those of you who also use concrete blocks, have you noticed whether
> snakes are attracted to the heat they give off? My backyard is bordered by
> woods, and I kill several snakes there every year.

They might be gathered to the heat, but I think the lack
of cover (assuming you plant in or fill the holes) would
discourage them.

If your snakes are rattlers or diamond back (or otherwise venomous)
sure kill them, but around here I occassionly see Western Terrestrial
Garder Snakes.  They eat bugs (sadly good bugs too) like crazy, I would
be happy if they would stayed around.

> Thanks!
>
> Bob McLain

Your welcome!  Good luck.
Ron Souliere (Lincoln, Nebraska)


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