Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?

lalukas 2/23/2020, 9:58 pm

Hi,
I'm putting in new raised beds on top of crappy, somewhat compressed, clay-heavy soil. The box is 10" high. I'll be taking off the sod but I'm not sure if I should use landscape fabric to line the bottom of the box. The landscaper who is helping suggested it to prevent the media from getting out at the bottom, but I wondered if anything would like to sink deeper roots.

Also, what about painting or staining the wood. they are made of 1x10" fir.

Thanks,
Lou

yolos 2/23/2020, 10:38 pm

I used heavy or multiple layers of cardboard in the bottoms of my boxes. They will eventually decompose and allow the plants to grow deeper roots if needed. Of course this only works if you do not have invasive weeds nearby.

For the coating on the timbers of the beds, I used raw linseed oil (not boiled linseed oil) on my 2" x 10" pine boarders. I built my first boxes in 2012 and they are still being used. A little bit decaying but still usable.

lalukas 2/24/2020, 3:49 am

And I love your quote. I'm 57 and just noticing that I'm definitely not young anymore!

markqz 2/24/2020, 10:22 am

lalukas wrote:Hi,
The landscaper who is helping suggested it to prevent the media from getting out at the bottom, but I wondered if anything would like to sink deeper roots.

What are you planting where you expect to need deeper roots? The idea with SFG is that you're going to be growing 2 or more crops per season in each square. Fertilization happens in the form of compost at the time that you rotate the crop in any square. So, in general, there's not really a need for deep roots. Mel's mix is a bit pricey, so you probably don't want it escaping or mixing with the ordinary soil without a good reason.

In my case, the liner is essential to reduce the invasion of bermuda grass ... I'm waiting to see if it works Wink

I've used cheaper wood and painted my newer boxes to extend their life (I hope), but not everyone would agree with this. Mostly, I didn't want to build a 10 year box when I don't know how long I'll be living in this location.

OhioGardener 2/24/2020, 6:42 pm

markqz wrote:What are you planting where you expect to need deeper roots?

One thing that I grow that has deeper "roots" is the Daikon radish - they grwo down to 12"to 18". The carrots typically grow down to about 9", but not nearly as deep as the Daiko radishes. But, my beds are all 18" high, so that is not a problem.

**sanderson** 2/24/2020, 6:57 pm

Yes, please put a weed fabric liner on the bottom and up the interior sides a way to corral the Mel's Mix and suppress weeds from growing up inside the box. Some of the veggie plant roots will go through the weed fabric. When pulling out the plant, just make sure you don't tear the fabric. For long root veggies like carrots or parsnips, you can add a top hat to those squares and fill with more Mel's Mix.

Some folks use raw linseed oil on the wood boxes.

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Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?

Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?

Re: Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?

Thank you, Yolos

Re: Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?

Re: Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?

Re: Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?

Re: Should I use a liner inside the box? How about staining or painting?


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