2x6's or 2x8's?

Mel talks about 6" deep beds all throughout his book, and then talks about using 2x6's which are actually only 5.5" tall. Is that okay or should I use 2x8's and just fill them with exactly 6" of dirt?

Thanks in advance...
Rob

I used 1x8 vinyl planks for that reason. If you fill it to the top you will get some settling. It should still leave you with atleast 6" . I am not sure if it's necessary .

Scott

2x6 is fine

Mel talked in his book about using a 2x4 box to carry around (to save weight) for demos when he would go talk to school students.

I recommend taking a minute at harvest time to study the root structure of the plants. You'll have a better appreciation for why SFG works. In fertile, well watered soil, the plants don't need a large root system to thrive. Some hungry plants like tomatoes will send their roots horizontally rather than down.

Awesome! I think I will just stick to the 2x6's for both cost and weight.

2x6's work great! i do have some 2x8's i'll be using this year, but that's because we moved a shed last summer and used2x8's as the support to carry it across the yard. fully intending to 'reuse' that purchased wood for my garden expansion plans this year. we just were afraid 2x6 wouldn't be wide enough for the bottom of the shed to rest on.

i still remember my husband's face when i had that shed up on the struts and called him to help me move it - he didn't think my idea would work (basically putting the shed on a sled) until he saw me lift up the front of the shed alone and then he was on board with it. didn't take more than 20 minutes to carry it 200 feet to the new location. took me longer to nail lift the shed's edges in the first place and slide the wood under it, lol.

the shed's old location was in full sun - and is the site of my new garden expansion plans. the shed is now in partial shade and works better all around for us.