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Re: Raised bed materials (long but informative)

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

This is a little long, so bear with me, guys...

BRITATHRT@aol.com wrote:

> Ok this is probably dumb question time...BUT...
> a.  How do you keep them from moving(if you have them more than one
>     block deep)
>
> we want to have the bed least 2 blocks high due to having bad backs
> b.   Do you fill the holes ALL the way down with soilmix..or do you 
> stuff the holes with something else(assuming we want to plant in the 
> holes)

In my garden, the back wall (on the lowest part of the slope) is 3
blocks high.  A lot of what holds them in place is the sheer weight of
the blocks - the 8x8x16 ones weigh 36lb EACH.  It's important to note
that I have clay soil, so when I wet it and compress it, it *stays* that
way.  I use a level and try to get the area where the blocks are sitting
on the ground as level as possible; then I place a layer of sand under
them (which is much easier to get leveled out).  Then I place the blocks
on the bed of sand.

After the bottom course is placed, I fill the holes in it with wet clay,
and compact it a bit with a 2x4.  Then I take a section of concrete
reinforcing rod and pound it in while the clay's still wet, near one
edge of the hole (usually the front corner) of the block. 
The holes look like this:

	========== <-Front of block
Re-bar->| X	 | 
	|	 |
	| 	 |
	==========

The rods hold the blocks in place; the clay adds weight and holds
the rods in place more securely.  I imagine this would also work
with sand or even a different kind of soil.

The second course is filled with loose, non-compacted clay; the third
layer is filled with some clay, compost and good soil to plant in.

The sides of my plot are mostly constructed of the 4x8x16 hollow 
blocks, except the back corners, where the bigger ones are needed.
It all looks like this:
	______________
Top:	|    |  |    | 
	|    |  |    | <- 4x8x16 blocks for front and sides			|____|  |____|
	|____   _____|
	|    |  |    |  
 	#    |  |    # <- 8x8x16s for back and first column of sides
	##############<- 8x8x8s for corner "posts"

Side view:
		_____________________________________
<- North	|__|____|____|____|____|____|____|__/			
		|__|____|____|____|____|____/
		|__|____|____/      Hillside

This method is a LOT of work, especially if you're insane like me and
build it on a hill.  But it works, and looks pretty good.  Plus, I now
have a 4-foot deep spot for my tomatoes (they go at the back)!

If you're gardening on a level spot, this is a much smaller project. 
Since the blocks are only 8" high, if you want a 10" deep bed I'd put a
cap on the blocks using a 4x8x16 solid block to get the additional
depth.

Hope this helps you and maybe someone else.  :)

Jason


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