Wonderboard & Wood Lath Trellis

fulfam 4/9/2010, 1:13 pm

Hi! I sealed the outside of the raised bed and trellis frame yesterday and painted the outside white this morning.

My step-dad checked it out and he suggested using wonderboard (a thin piece of cement board as he described it) on the inside walls of the box to make it last longer. What do you think?

Also, I was wondering if a wood lath trellis would make a good backing to the frame. Will it hold up to growing food vertically on vines?

Just a few minor details before we finish. Hopefully, we'll get Mel's Mix in it this weekend. But we don't get to plant until after April 26. We has another freeze the other night. But it's getting warmer!

Thanks!

boffer 4/9/2010, 1:33 pm

Wonderboard will handle moisture well. One use for it is in showers, to set tile on. But the moisture saturates and goes all the way through the board to the other side. That is why a moisture barrier should be installed before the wonderboard.

Same thing will happen in your box. The backside of the wonderboard will hold moisture against the box frame, defeating the purpose. You could put a moisture barrier between the wood and wonderboard, but then what is the purpose of the wonderboard.

I line all my boxes with plastic-easier and cheaper.

boffer 4/9/2010, 1:39 pm

Oh, I forgot the lattice. Lath, as I think of lath, won't work. 1x2s and 2x2s will. Here's a simple, inexpensive lattice I built as a gift.

Wonderboard & Wood Lath Trellis 8_latt10

Wonderboard & Wood Lath Trellis 8_latt10

fulfam 4/9/2010, 1:55 pm

Well I think it's lath. But it would be in the trellis section of Lowe's or Home Depot...they have the ones that are diagonal and others that are square. I just thought it might add a little aesthetic element to the frame. But I have some nylon netting too. And no wonderboard...just plastic lining - where do I find it and how do I line it (with nails?)?

chocolatepop 4/9/2010, 3:38 pm

fulfam wrote:Well I think it's lath. But it would be in the trellis section of Lowe's or Home Depot...they have the ones that are diagonal and others that are square. I just thought it might add a little aesthetic element to the frame. But I have some nylon netting too. And no wonderboard...just plastic lining - where do I find it and how do I line it (with nails?)?

plastic lining is painters plastic near painting. I got some at home depot and the rest at walmart (cheaper). comes in a lot of different "thicknesses". I used 6mil, 3mil and 1mil depending. And a staple gun.

I think what you are talking about is lattice right?
Wonderboard & Wood Lath Trellis Pic_PTLattice

Wonderboard & Wood Lath Trellis Pic_PTLattice

boffer 4/9/2010, 3:41 pm

Yes, those would make nice looking trellises. But they will flop in the breeze without support. Here's two ideas. Install 2x2s, like I did in the pic, to attach the lattice to. Or, they make grooved 2x2s, you should be able to find them near the lattice, so you can make a frame around the lattice, The edges of the lattice fit into the frame.

You could use 3mil garbage bags for your plastic or get a roll of 6mil 'contractor' grade plastic, available at big box stores. I just use staples to secure.

fulfam 4/9/2010, 3:52 pm

Thanks! We're going to finish the trellis and grid and add Mel's Mix this weekend - hopefully. Then I have to wait until the end of the month to plant. At least it gives time for the soil to settle I guess. I can't wait to post pics!
Wonderboard & Wood Lath Trellis 27650

chocolatepop 4/9/2010, 3:59 pm

for whats it worth, i get all my advice from Boff Wink

he's the one that told me about the plastic (I did it for my table top box), and I plan on doing the lattice in my new boxes too!

fulfam 4/10/2010, 10:01 pm

Well, we didn't go with the wonderboard or lattice. We just used plastic lining on the inside of the box and nylon netting for the trellis instead. And for someone who has never tied one of those things on - it was harder than it looks! But I got it figured out. We completely finished the box today and filled it with Mel's Mix. It looks beautiful! I can't wait to get started planting with the family, but in my eagerness to work outside today, I forgot to put on sun screen and ended up with a pretty bad sunburn (cold shower and vinegar - here I come). I will probably just start some plants inside and plant them next weekend. Are there any recommendations on what plants to start as transplants vs planting them as seeds? Thanks!

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