Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[cavemanrich]

Building the raised beds will be my first project at the new place so this interests me. 5 years or less would you say?

I'm not sure how long the OSB will last. I had a Children's Tree house from the OSB and it was painted. It lasted pretty long, but it did not have constant soil contact such as a framing for a raised bed would endure.
I understand that each individual has different circumstances, and budgets.
Here are some of my IDEAS and THOUGHTS for a raised bed. Consider the cost of materials, and the amount of work involved. Also consider how it will look/function in a few years.

Basic plywood, or OSB, Easy and fast. Cut to desired height, also need some stakes to hold in position on ground. Take into consideration price of paint.

Pressure treated outdoor wood. Will last pretty long. Fast and no need to paint. May get somewhat more labor involved depending on height desired. Will also need to be staked into ground.

Cinder blocks layed out for the perimeter. They are not very expensive compared to other landscape bricks/blocks. Some base preparation needed to get a good looking finished job. Cinder blocks are 8 inches in height. The holes in cinder block can be used as individual plant holders creating a flowery perimeter.

Retaining wall blocks, usually in 4 to 6 inch heights are very good, but the price is also somewhat high when you need many of them.

One option if you have the ability and time, and need quite a few beds ,,,, is to make your own cement walls. This is labor intensive, but not very expensive. Construct an outer frame and an inner frame from plywood. The cement width of 4 inches would do for most needs. Maybe less for small beds. The height, is what you desire to make your frame. In 2 days remove frame, and set up for next bed. The one frame set will make countless beds provided you do not damage it during removal. If you purchase bulk sand and stone, and then bags of Portland cement, the material will not set you back that much. If you purchase bags of concrete cement mix, (cement,sand,stone, all in one bag) then that route will cost slightly more. Pix below gives IDEA what would be involved.

What this comes down to,,,,,, is. Calculate your material costs, and labor involved. Most of all, consider how you will like your finished product.

 

[NewBoots]

Pressure treated outdoor wood. Will last pretty long. Fast and no need to paint. May get somewhat more labor involved depending on height desired. Will also need to be staked into ground.

Stake it with rebar you think? This is what I was thinking of, then line it with landscape fabric.

 

[cavemanrich]

Stake it with rebar you think? This is what I was thinking of, then line it with landscape fabric.

Rebar will work fine. It is also reasonably priced. I have a lot of my flower beds edged with those landscape timbers. Used whatever I had around handy/extra to stake those down. Steel 3/8 rods, rebar, and also used 1/2 EMT conduit. Had to drill holes with a 3/4 inch bit for those.
Keeps the grass separated from the flower beds.
You can see the 3/8 inch rod in pix that I pounded in.

 

[cavemanrich]

line it with landscape fabric.

On the other Gardening thread I read, there was a neat idea to place cardboard on bottom of bed. Cardboard will decompose quite quickly, but in the process, keeps weeds and grass that may be below from growing up thru the added soil.

 

[NewBoots]

On the other Gardening thread I read, there was a neat idea to place cardboard on bottom of bed. Cardboard will decompose quite quickly, but in the process, keeps weeds and grass that may be below from growing up thru the added soil.

Ah and we'll had a lot of cardboard from our move. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Searsmom]

I know what you have. There is nothing of concern of leaching into the soil, to my knowledge,,,,,,,, but here is my opinion.
It is made of particle board. Being outdoor, and subject to rain and moisture, the boards will swell and bend,,,,,,(no practical way to avoid that) and eventually break/crack. That translates to a short lived raised bed. OSB plywood, sometimes called waferboard by some is intended to be outdoors. It is made from scrap shreds of wood, (not sawdust). The main difference is the outdoor grade glue used in that. I had some outdoor items made from OSB, and painted. They did last a considerable time.

I hear you, it doesn't look like particle board though. It was a mid-height bed, not like my daughter's ikea bunk bed. I'm really just trying to use up clutter we have around here, there's random boards, lots of concrete blocks, old beds, etc. Accumulation lol.

Anyway, it's like particle board with plastic on top. Hard to describe. I have a feeling if I can seal the bolt holes, it may last awhile longer. The paint was because I don't want bright white in my garden. It's 3'x3'x1.2", one of their under storage beds. I'm wondering if I can't use it in concert with the concrete blocks. Headboard and footboard as ends. That way, if it does wimp out on me, it will be easier to replace. I know what you mean about their regular particle board, that stuff wouldn't last a season here in our rain and humidity. It's not in a high visibility area, so I'm not too worried about looks, just neatness.
I'm adding pics, dusty because it's been in the attic.

 

[cavemanrich]

I hear you, it doesn't look like particle board though. It was a mid-height bed, not like my daughter's ikea bunk bed. I'm really just trying to use up clutter we have around here, there's random boards, lots of concrete blocks, old beds, etc. Accumulation lol.

Anyway, it's like particle board with plastic on top. Hard to describe. I have a feeling if I can seal the bolt holes, it may last awhile longer. The paint was because I don't want bright white in my garden. It's 3'x3'x1.2", one of their under storage beds. I'm wondering if I can't use it in concert with the concrete blocks. Headboard and footboard as ends. That way, if it does wimp out on me, it will be easier to replace. I know what you mean about their regular particle board, that stuff wouldn't last a season here in our rain and humidity. It's not in a high visibility area, so I'm not too worried about looks, just neatness.
I'm adding pics, dusty because it's been in the attic.View attachment 1734208 View attachment 1734209

I know exactly, what IKEA makes their things from. Particle board with a laminate on the surface. If you seal the openings and exposed edges best you can, it will last longer.
I am in favor of reusing, repuposing things to a high degree. Things that I make, but know they still will not last all that long, I call them "LAST CHANCE"
It is easy to throw things out,,,,,,,,,,,,, To me it is much more satisfying to give them a LAST CHANCE,,
Here is a pix of one of my repurposed. My current coop for my pets.

Here is another Playhouse on the patio loaded up to hold potted flowers. Lil ones outgrew the toy, so I decided to repurpose.

 

[bruceha2000]

Cinder blocks layed out for the perimeter.

I've seen those in other posts, I like the idea. Easy and there is the "extra" planting space in the holes of the blocks.

 

[Searsmom]

Ha! I like the playhouse designs! My old garden gate was my pen for my daughter when she was an infant. We used it in sections to enclose the living room. My grandaughters pen is our baby chick coop when they visit the outside before they're released into the chicken house.

I think I'm gonna try sealing that board for it's Last Chance.

 

[Searsmom]

You know, it's easier for me to post in the mornings before my full days, but I'm really not awake yet, hence double posts.

I've seen those in other posts, I like the idea. Easy and there is the "extra" planting space in the holes of the blocks.

We have an area that gets flooded a lot in late winter rains, I use a single layer of cinderblocks in that area to plant stuff, because they won't float away. Usually annuals, this year they have dill in them. I started from seed, so had to scrounge for something to keep the chickens fat feet off them.