Search
Latest topics
» What do I do with tomato plants?by SMEDLEY BUTLER Yesterday at 8:53 pm
» N & C Midwest—May 2024
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 7:14 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 7:02 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 5/17/2024, 4:09 pm
» Compost not hot
by OhioGardener 5/17/2024, 8:05 am
» First timer in Central Virginia (7b) - newly built beds 2024
by flossy21 5/16/2024, 5:34 pm
» Help me correct my mistakes for next year please
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 5/16/2024, 4:46 pm
» Cabbage worms
by sanderson 5/16/2024, 1:34 am
» Complicated mixed up bunny poop!
by plantoid 5/14/2024, 7:20 pm
» They don't call 'em garden BEDS for nothing.
by sanderson 5/12/2024, 2:34 am
» Spring Flowers
by OhioGardener 5/9/2024, 12:02 pm
» Birds of the Garden
by OhioGardener 5/7/2024, 8:26 pm
» Greetings from Southport NC
by sanderson 5/6/2024, 4:36 am
» In the news: Biosolids in Texas.
by sanderson 5/6/2024, 4:19 am
» Rhubarb Rhubarb
by Scorpio Rising 5/5/2024, 7:57 pm
» Mark's first SFG
by markqz 5/4/2024, 12:08 am
» question about the digital tools from the sfg site.
by OhioGardener 5/2/2024, 4:50 pm
» Assistance Needed: Sugar Snap Peas Yellowing and Wilting
by Scorpio Rising 5/1/2024, 8:24 pm
» OMG, GMO from an unexpected place.
by sanderson 5/1/2024, 1:57 am
» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 4/29/2024, 1:30 pm
» Lovage, has anyone grown, or used
by OhioGardener 4/29/2024, 12:27 pm
» New to SFG in Arlington, Tx
by sanderson 4/26/2024, 3:13 pm
» Soil Blocks: Tutorial In Photos
by OhioGardener 4/25/2024, 5:20 pm
» Manure tea overwintered outside - is it safe to use?
by Mhpoole 4/24/2024, 7:08 pm
» Advice on my blend
by donnainzone5 4/24/2024, 12:13 pm
» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 4/24/2024, 8:16 am
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson 4/22/2024, 2:07 pm
» Sacrificial Tomatoes
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/22/2024, 10:36 am
» From the Admin - 4th EDITION of All New Square Foot Gardening is in Progress
by sanderson 4/21/2024, 5:02 pm
» Happy Birthday!!
by AtlantaMarie 4/21/2024, 6:56 am
Google
Plywood Bottom - Help!
5 posters
Page 1 of 1
Plywood Bottom - Help!
I've assembled a 4'x4' SFG box (which really is 4'2" x 4'2" because I did as Mel instructed and rotated the corners when building the box). This will be a table top garden, so I'm ready to attach the plywood. And, as he instructed I purchased a 4'x4' piece of plywood (not even realizing at the time that the box is actually slightly larger than 4'). So now we're actually a bit short on plywood - it does not reach to the edges of the SFG box. I've searched and searched and not seen any other posts about this. Doesn't the plywood need to reach to the edges of the box so that it is as secure and supportive as possible? I'm using 3/4" plywood. Thanks in advance for the help!
blueandwhite- Posts : 3
Join date : 2013-02-09
Location : Fort Worth, TX
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
I'd want the plywood to be for the entire square. If you wanted to move it, a loose bottom wouldnt work and it also wouldnt keep some bugs out.
Can you adjust the frame down to 4x4? I would try that before buying another bottom.
Can you adjust the frame down to 4x4? I would try that before buying another bottom.
JackieB999- Posts : 125
Join date : 2012-12-04
Location : Central Florida
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
Thanks, Jackie, for your thought on that. I'm sure we can adjust it down by dismantling the whole thing. We'd lose some gardening space, but I suppose that's fine. What I don't understand is - am I the only one to run into this problem? We followed the instructions to a t. We keep thinking maybe we're just missing something here, misunderstanding, reading something incorrectly.
blueandwhite- Posts : 3
Join date : 2013-02-09
Location : Fort Worth, TX
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
You know, you're right. A 4' board with another one attached to the end makes 4'2". Mel put his directly on a weed mat and grass in the book. I'm using 5 gallon containers myself (12" diameter). So that is an excellent question!
JackieB999- Posts : 125
Join date : 2012-12-04
Location : Central Florida
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
It's actually 4' 1½".. Unless you specifically ask for dimensional lumber, a 2x4 is 1½x3½"..
The best thing to do is to disassemble it and chop 1½" off each board, then reassemble it, since you will not find plywood 4'1½" wide. You want the plywood to go edge to edge so that you can center the screws into the lumber. Otherwise you'll wind up splitting it.
The best thing to do is to disassemble it and chop 1½" off each board, then reassemble it, since you will not find plywood 4'1½" wide. You want the plywood to go edge to edge so that you can center the screws into the lumber. Otherwise you'll wind up splitting it.
mtottle- Posts : 22
Join date : 2012-05-29
Location : Kansas - Zone 6a
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
I would just screw a few rails on the interior of the box boards on all sides and drop the plywood bottom into the box. Line with weed barrier, add Mel's Mix and go.
That or put stretches (support strap) from one side to the other, then drop the plywood into the box.
That or put stretches (support strap) from one side to the other, then drop the plywood into the box.
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
how does this work for drainage?
is it just a case of drilling lots of holes into the ply,
or is there some other way.
gg
is it just a case of drilling lots of holes into the ply,
or is there some other way.
gg
greengrass- Posts : 50
Join date : 2013-02-02
Location : lancashire
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
GreenGrass - the book says to drill a hole in each square foot section, plus an extra hole in each corner.
blueandwhite- Posts : 3
Join date : 2013-02-09
Location : Fort Worth, TX
Re: Plywood Bottom - Help!
That's what I do. I want drainage not a sieve, so I put 1/4"-1/2" holes every 6"-8" apart.greengrass wrote:how does this work for drainage?
is it just a case of drilling lots of holes into the ply,
or is there some other way.
gg
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Similar topics
» plywood
» plywood - is it needed?
» Whether or not to cover plywood bottoms?
» About the Plywood
» Plywood for bottom of bed
» plywood - is it needed?
» Whether or not to cover plywood bottoms?
» About the Plywood
» Plywood for bottom of bed
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|