FILLING DOUBLE-HEIGHT BOXES

MasonGarden 6/12/2016, 6:25 pm

I am putting in double height boxes (two 4'x4'x10" boxes stacked) to make it easy for my mother to garden, but don't want to fill the bottom half with precious Mel's Mix since I don't plan to plant potatoes or anything that needs to be that deep in the ground. Any suggestions for what we can put in the first level instead that won't have a negative impact on drainage or the organic environment in the boxes? Thanks!

**Kelejan** 6/12/2016, 7:03 pm

Sand. maybe? I should imagine that drains well.

MasonGarden 6/12/2016, 10:18 pm

Sounds like a good idea. I can just pour the Mel's Mix on top with no worry about the two "mixing" over time? Or should I put something like landscape fabric between them?

I looked on the hardware store sites. There seems to be "regular" sand and play sand. I guess regular sand will do. Thanks!

**Kelejan** 6/12/2016, 10:24 pm

I would think that you can do it either way. Nutrients from the MM will filter down to the lower layer but that would happen if you were only doing MM on top of ordinary soil anyway.

If you put down landscape fabric, eventually it will get holes in it when you dig into it.
This is only my opinion, maybe someone else will chime in and help us.

BeetlesPerSqFt 6/13/2016, 12:03 am

I'm not very experienced with what works and doesn't with garden stuff construction, so there might be something wrong with this idea, but: If you aren't planting anything deeper than 10", would a draining wood bottom -- like the tabletop boxes have -- placed between the two stacked boxes work? Maybe with supports to help prevent any sagging - like a centered 2'x2'x10" box or something?

**sanderson** 6/13/2016, 4:20 am

Mason, Have you looked at the idea of table top beds for your Mom? Will 19" be tall enough for her to work? (two 10" boards = 19") You can fill the lower board area with coarse sand or gravel, topping with a layer or two of weed fabric. That will leave 9 1/2" for Mel's Mix plus mulch. If she ever wants to grow 8" carrots or such, you can make a little top hat for those squares in the future.

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FILLING DOUBLE-HEIGHT BOXES

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