Drain Holes

Bart 5/27/2021, 7:58 am

Hi Folks,

Been doing square foot gardening for a few years now and today I have a few questions that I need advice on.

1. Do I need to drill drain holes on the side of the raised bed box?

2. If so what size and how far apart.

I ask these questions because I've noticed that when digging down to the bottom of the raised bed soil, it's soggy. That can't be good.

Thanks
Bart

OhioGardener 5/27/2021, 8:37 am

Do the beds have open bottoms, and setting on the ground? If so, no.

Are they table-top beds? If so, they need drain holes in the bottom, but not on the sides.

Bart 5/27/2021, 9:39 am

It's on the hard clay ground.

Bart

OhioGardener 5/27/2021, 10:57 am

Bart wrote:It's on the hard clay ground.

That's okay, it will still drain down.

**sanderson** 6/5/2021, 10:12 pm

If the beds are in a depression on the red clay, the excess water may be pooling and making the Mel's Mix soggy, assuming that you use Mel's Mix in your beds. MM drains wonderfully. Other bed fills, maybe not so well.

ralitaco 6/13/2021, 12:23 pm

Bart,
If you are concerned about the water sitting and doing damage to the plants or wood, I'd say go ahead and put in 1 or 2 holes 1/4" and see what happens. Another option would be to slide in some pvc just under the bottom of the box, then the water would have a path out.

How about dig down and post a pic of the the really soggy stuff, then the gurus here can really see and tell if you have anything to worry about.

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