Drilling Holes in a plywood bottom

mrchefdave Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:53 am

I am installing a plywood bottom like the one shown in the book. I understand that I drill one hole in the center of each one foot square. How ever the book also explains to drill one in each corner but is not explicit? Do I drill one in each corner of "each" one foot square or in each corner of the entire 4 foot by 4 foot garden?
Thanks

UnderTheBlackWalnut Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:47 am

I went back and looked and could see where it's difficult to figure out the meaning... thinking

Maybe other members interpreted it differently, but we drilled one hole in the center of each square and then an extra one in each of the four corners of the box. So if we have a 4 x 4 box, we drilled 20 holes...make sense? Smile

**llama momma** Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:51 am

Uh - oh Last week my husband built my plywood bottom per my instructions and I took it to mean you have 12 squares each with one center hole. Then an extra drainage hole in the four outer corners of the box. Now I'm having a memory of someone saying two holes were better....but where I don't know! Sorry! Hopefully it is not critical. I am going to cover the bottom with weed cloth to preserve the mix from falling through.

chjbr63 Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:53 am

WELCOME TO THE FORUM Drilling Holes in a plywood bottom 396615

I'm a newbie too. If you look closely at the picture in the book it appears they are about 6 inches apart. I built my box and did one in the center of each square and four outside corners and it didn't look like enough. I settled on one every six inches, it is better to have a few extra drains than not enough.

UnderTheBlackWalnut Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:05 am

I'm sorry MrChefDave not to have given you a proper $glad you\'re here$ ! I didn't realize it was your first post. Please feel free to introduce yourself in the introductions thread and check out the posts for your regional area as well. Smile

As you can see we are a fairly friendly and helpful bunch. We are happy to have you here and we love pictures!

jennifer37918 Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:40 am

Maybe other members interpreted it differently, but we drilled one hole in the center of each square and then an extra one in each of the four corners of the box. So if we have a 4 x 4 box, we drilled 20 holes...make sense?

I also drilled a total of 20 holes in each 4x4. When I first loaded the box with MM, I watered until I could see standing water, then stopped and watched to make sure the water drained back out quickly. This is my first year, so we'll see if it continues to work, but everything appears to be draining appropriately and the plants are thriving so far. My holes are about 1/4" each.

Fingers crossed...

**llama momma** Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:47 am

Yes the drill bit used here was also 1/4 inch. So, twenty 1/4 inch size holes is equal to one 5 inch hole in the box right? Sounds good enough to me- I guess!

UnderTheBlackWalnut Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:56 am

$glad you\'re here$ jennifer37918!

I think we might be geographically in areas with only moderate rain (so is llama momma), so our drainage is probably fine with that. I have had no problems either. But we aren't in a SUPER wet climate either...like our friends in the PNW who have to deal with perpetual sogginess and heavy rain! Smile

(Is that a word? Sogginess? I'm sure they'll let me know.) Smile

Please feel free to post in the introductions thread. Check out the topics on the homepage that interest you and use the search bar in the upper left to find specific information. As always, post questions you have, and keep us updated on your progress! We love pictures! Smile

**sfg4uKim** Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:21 pm

Did anyone else find that 1/4" holes weren't large enough? Before I even filled it we got a heavy rain and the box filled with water. So now I drill 1/2" holes and put screen over them (or use weed cloth).

**llama momma** Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:03 pm

Can't argue with your experience! Wow thank you. Oh boy, here I've been waiting several days for the wind to die down so I can mix and fill the box. It's my first plywood bottom box. Now I'm glad it got delayed and read your response. If the weather folks are correct it'll still be several more days till it calms down, plenty of time to drill bigger holes. Did you put in twenty 1/2 inch holes? Or More?

**sfg4uKim** Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:16 pm

llama momma wrote:Can't argue with your experience! Wow thank you. Oh boy, here I've been waiting several days for the wind to die down so I can mix and fill the box. It's my first plywood bottom box. Now I'm glad it got delayed and read your response. If the weather folks are correct it'll still be several more days till it calms down, plenty of time to drill bigger holes. Did you put in twenty 1/2 inch holes? Or More?

Yes, it would have been 20 if it was a 4x4 (I did a 2x2 so it was 8 ).

**sfg4uKim** Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:24 pm

FYI - the ones I got came from the SFG Foundation. It was a 2x2 with a hole in each square and one hole in each of the outer 4 corners for a total of 8 holes.

**snibb** Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:06 pm

Undertheblackwalnut has it right

mrchefdave Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:43 pm

Thanks for the clarification. Just did not want to drill too many holes or too few either. Actually I drilled bigger holes than the recommended 1/4 inch. I felt that the purpose of the hole was to let water out and since the vermiculite keeps your soil moist letting excess drain is important to keeping the plywood together. My garden is on the ground and I just want to keep the ground and my MELs mix separate. I will be drilling holes (through the dirt) in the corners too. I am amazed that the lettuce and flowers are already starting to sprout! Sorry all I am in Florida and we have already been having warm days.
Dave
thanks

**llama momma** Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:53 pm

sfg4uKim wrote:FYI - the ones I got came from the SFG Foundation. It was a 2x2 with a hole in each square and one hole in each of the outer 4 corners for a total of 8 holes.

Gotcha. Makes perfect sense.

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Drilling Holes in a plywood bottom

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I got mine from the Foundation

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Thanks Everyone

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