Raised Bed Question!

[Emma_Elizabeth]

Just purchased an easy assemble wooden raised bed from the local DIY store and just put it together this morning. Should I lined it?

Photo Below: Note the Bed are on concrete slabs and later filled with compost.



Many Thanks, Emma

[Ian Pearson]

Gaps between the boards and a liner (I assume you are thinking of polythene) are a nice place for slugs to hide. After a couple years the parts of the liner that show will get broken down by UV light, and disintegrate in to messy bits in to the soil.
But on the other hand a liner may help to stop traces of the chemical wood preserver from migrating in to your soil. Even the 'safe' ones are by definition persistent and deadly to fungi, a valuable and important part of your soil fauna.
A full liner would fill up with water in winter, so make sure there are enough drainage holes if you go that route.
Personally, it's salvaged untreated wood for me, and just accept that it will need to be replaced after 4 or 5 years.

[Paulottie]

I wouldn't bother.

[Jimmy]

Bet that cost a bob or two !

Have you seen ..

http://www.jlearmonth.f2s.com/RaisedBeds

Regards
Jimmy

[paula.berriman]

Hi. I would only add a liner in the bottom of your bed if you are planning on keeping it on the patio. Soil eventually leaches out with watering and you end up with mounds of silt at the bottom of your beds.

If you are planning on putting your bed on soil and topping it up with top soil / compost then i wouldnt bother with a liner.

Hope thats of some use to you.

[Flobalob]

I would lift the slabs. Then i would line the sides with plastic.

[Bigmallly]

I would have lifted the slabs, stood them on their ends & used them as the sides.....I'm suffering from deja vous...........