ROOTS ROOTS ROOTS..really need some help on this one

This is a photo of the first on-ground box DH built for me in March 2013.  Roots from a rose bush, star jasmine, and a since removed gardenia invaded it in just a few months.  It's fancier than needed but I wanted this one to match the 2 new TTs DH built this summer.  The others slated for raising will be done on the cheap.


I would recommend building all boxes to be at least slightly raised if there are any shrubs or trees close (the distance is relative to the type of plant) by.  I mean, if Camp raised her beds this year, it's got to be a good idea!

My beds are 4X 10s....I'm thinking of completely emptying them, then deciding what to do.
Last season was my first and everything I planted was lush, this season I would rate it as ok.
This season, however had a terrible start, cold, late planting and all.
I hate the idea of all this work...yuk....I'm supposed to be retired

Marc Iverson wrote:Holy cow, that's a lot of roots!  Are you sure you didn't just disturb a hibernating hippie?

Jimmy build tour raised beds and have a foot gap under them then play " The Elephant Eating Game " ( TEEG) Like wot I do" .

Do do it one forkful at a time , till you have had your fill for the day ,  them put your feet up for the rest of the day .

It gives you a long term goal to aim for .

plantoid wrote:

It gives you a long term goal to aim for .

Better not be to long Plantoid, don't know how much time is left for me...
All is still ok, however getting to that time in life...
I started playing a banjo at 67 years, figuring it takes 30 years to become good...
That means at 97 I will be good enough to play at the nursing homes.....I just hope I'm not playing for myself....

I agree with plantoid. I think long-term goals and an ongoing curiosity about the broader world about you are what keep people going, as well as make them interesting to others. Even the young.

Jimmy cee,  Your beds are so much bigger than mine so I can understand why it would be a daunting task to raise them.  If I understand your past posts, you had original raised beds, then added to the top and made them taller.  If I had your task, I might consider the following:  remove the MM from the top half, remove the top half of the bed frame, lay and secure perforated plywood or hardward cloth or what ever for the new "floor."  Add supports under the new flooring as needed.  Then replace the top bed and add back in the MM.  I don't know what your drainage and soil are like, but you may want to cut out and insert some crawl space vents so the area underneath can dry out.

add: I looked at your earlier photos of your beds. Maybe start with a small one to get a sense of success in this heat. One shovel full at a time as Plantoid stated.

Here is the second one, finished today.  Still needs to be stained, tag removed, and trellis reinstalled.  The treated wood supports are 4" x 6" leaving a 5 1/2" space underneath so I can periodically sweep out the black widows.  But, low enough so the cat doesn't sleep under there. She has a dozen other good backyard sleeping spots, especially under the TTs.


Roots under the first box when it was on the ground:


Seventeen (17) months of insect and moisture damage to the first one.  The second one was in real bad shape, much worse than this one.:

Why can't I see any of your pictures? 

Kay

I can see all the posted photos.

Sanderson
Your thoughts are exactly what I was intending to do, however for the time being I am letting everything go until I find out how those roots grew back.
I'll have more time next year and there after to put into my gardening career, I am closing down a 27 year small home business this year and my thoughts should be more focused.

walshevak wrote:Why can't I see any of your pictures? 

Kay

Stealth photos?? Can you see them today?

sanderson wrote:

walshevak wrote:Why can't I see any of your pictures? 

Kay

Stealth photos??  Can you see them today?

AHHH. there they are.

Kay

I turned the shield off so you could see them

Started raising these 2 on-ground beds on 9-5.  Finished and filled today.  I still need to install the drip systems and grids, and the worm tube with occupants.  DH had to replace the sewer line (and the water line, as it was uncovered) at the last rental house, so he has not been able to help yesterday and today.  How did I get them back in place and filled with existing MM and newly made MM??  One bitty step at a time.  He can do the same thing in a fraction of my time.

Some of that soil sure looks nice and black. That's where your baby bok choy in the single square foot boxes used to be, right? I think I remember the lattice.

Must be nice to have gotten those done. Squatting down and leaning over to do garden chores is a pain. I'd love to have nothing but raised beds ... AND the space to walk between them.

Marc, the little squares were against the house.  I will take photos of the backyard when the remodeling is done.  Besides, the corn box blocks the view of many views right now!  


This is a planted view of the boxes just raised.


The winter squash  and cantaloupe boxes also have the trellis in the background.  We are almost done replacing the redwood trellis on all three (3) sides of the backyard.