Drainage

**rustylady** · 19-11-2009, 05:39 PM

I do hope your raised bed doesn't have a solid plastic liner. This could be the problem. You really need drainage, and as the bed is above the level of the path I can't see from your picture why the water isn't draining away.

**Two_Sheds** · 19-11-2009, 05:42 PM

Is that your raised bed, or is it just the frame you're planning to use for a raised bed?

**Two_Sheds** · 19-11-2009, 05:43 PM

Is all your garden that soggy? If not, move the frame to a better patch.

**uulwyn** · 19-11-2009, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

Is that your raised bed, or is it just the frame you're planning to use for a raised bed?

This is the frame i am using for the raised bed, its a linkabord frame so it is not solid plastic as it has a hollow inner layer to trap warmth etc

the picture angle isnt great and I havent filled it yet, but i wanted to get the drainage sorted first and all the garden is like this. Very clay soil and stoney.

**uulwyn** · 19-11-2009, 07:28 PM

Originally posted by rustylady View Post

I do hope your raised bed doesn't have a solid plastic liner. This could be the problem. You really need drainage, and as the bed is above the level of the path I can't see from your picture why the water isn't draining away.

It isnt filled yet, its just a frame.

**Bigmallly** · 19-11-2009, 07:38 PM

If moving it to another part of the garden is out of the question, is there any scope to lift the bed for example sit it on breeze blocks to give you more height. You will still have to deal with the water maybe by spiking the soil with a fork or digging plenty of gravel into the soil to assist the drainage.

**uulwyn** · 20-11-2009, 09:20 AM

I will fork some gravel in on the weekend , unless its bloody raining lol.

Also i might just raise the bed another 15cm but i dont want to do that really just for broad beans

thanks

**Two_Sheds** · 21-11-2009, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by uulwyn View Post

Also i might just raise the bed another 15cm but i dont want to do that really just for broad beans

So it doesn't normally flood then? It drains OK in summer?

Then I would delay sowing broad beans until Feb. They'll only rot if you put them in waterlogged soil.

To improve your drainage long-term, you need to improve your soil by working in lots of grit and well-rotted garden compost.

**uulwyn** · 21-11-2009, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

So it doesn't normally flood then? It drains OK in summer?

Then I would delay sowing broad beans until Feb. They'll only rot if you put them in waterlogged soil.

To improve your drainage long-term, you need to improve your soil by working in lots of grit and well-rotted garden compost.

no it doesnt ever flood, ill follow your advice though

**Bigmallly** · 21-11-2009, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by uulwyn View Post

no it doesnt ever flood, ill follow your advice though

If it never floods, I hope you have not got a burst pipe underneath......sorry, just a thought.

**Snadger** · 21-11-2009, 08:45 PM

Hi uulwyn.

Generally, raised beds can be helpful for people who garden on clay soil and have poor drainage.
If you were putting it where it is now, I reckon it would be best to remove the top spit of earth and put it to one side. Then I would dig out the second spit of earth,(subsoil) probably clay, and discard it.
Fill the hole to a single spit with pea gravel and return the topsoil mixed with loads of organic matter.
This should give you about a 20 inch thick layer of useable soil which should allow you to grow most things.

A cheaper alternative would be to Bastard trench it Trenching...............depends how severe the flooding is I suppose!

**uulwyn** · 23-11-2009, 03:16 PM

Thanks for the advice all

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