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Do I Line Raised Beds??

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  • #1

    Do I Line Raised Beds??

    Hi everyone,


    I am hoping for some direction here!


    I have just purchased three 4ft x 4ft raised beds from greenfingers, but my main dilemma is do I use a raised bed liner with these? I have scoured the internet and just come across so much conflicting information.... use cardboard.....use liners.....use plastic lining. I am now more confused than ever before!! The beds will be sited on what was a lawned area of the garden (clearing some of the area to landscape).

    Any info would be greatly appreciated!


    Thanks
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  • #2
    I also have some raised beds from Greenfingers. It is a good idea to paint them with some good preservative paint, even though they are already treated. They are comparatively expensive so it is a good investment. I would also line them in some way if I could, but you don't need to line the base as that is the main growing area- the lining would just be another way of preserving the wood edging.
    Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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    • #3
      Probably another can of worms here, but is it wise to put a preservative on? will the chemicals leech?

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      • #4
        I don't think lining them does any good. It traps moisture between it and the wood which rots the wood even quicker, neither does that moisture dry out so it harbours slugs. I would however line the bottom with cardboard and paper, the worms love it. There are safe preservatives mostly wax based.
        photo album of my garden in my profile http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...my+garden.html

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        • #5
          A good dose of linseed oil will help to preserve the wood without any nasty chemicals.
          Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

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          • #6
            Thanks guys I think I'm going to leave un-lined with just a layer if newspaper between the original soil and the bed does this sound ok? Only thing to confuse me there though is once the newspaper has rotted away do you bother replacing it?!

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            • #7
              The newspaper is used to suppress the weeds so use plenty, hence the preference for cardboard. You don't replace it once it is rotted, however you could choose to plant through cardboard/newspaper in future years if weeds become a pain.
              sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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              • #8
                I put whole unopened newspapers down and they probably take a few years to rot away but the benefits are great, they hold moisture, worms love em and somehow get through them, and they compost down helping the soil. If you are making compost using paper is excellent but that needs cutting/ tearing up. Paper and cardboard is a valuable resource. Google lasagne beds for more info.
                photo album of my garden in my profile http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...my+garden.html

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                • #9
                  I lined a small box in the front garden about 5 years ago to stop it rotting with strong clear plastic. It's still not rotted.
                  I didn't line a large shallow raised bed in the garden. It's rotted.

                  Depends on the quality of your wood and whether it's preserved too. Mine were just old fence posts in the garden, but pressure treated planks in the front.

                  Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it's not

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by goose2k7 View Post
                    so much conflicting information.... use cardboard.....use liners.....use plastic lining.
                    They do different jobs.

                    Cardboard: is used to smother any weeds, and add some carbon to the soil. Card isn't used as a lining, as such, it is used on the ground only, not on the sides of the bed.
                    If you're filling them lasagne style, you will need paper/cardboard or autumn leaves to supply the carbon element

                    Plastic lining: used to smother weeds, but also to protect the wood from rotting, if the wood isn't treated
                    All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                    • #11
                      My wooden beds have rotted within 5 years, which is a shame as they were quite expensive - and supposedly treated before I got them. Hence my advice to line.
                      Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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