Todd wrote:
On 06/14/2014 09:14 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
Also a raised bed only 12" high is of no real benefit,
you'd do better gardening directly on the ground... unless you
elevate your raised beds to 30" get rid of them.

Hi Brooklyn1,

I am planning, as soon as the recession breaks, to
convert my back yard into several raised bed.

I have seen several I liked, but the were close to the
ground. Would you please elucidate as to why they
need to be 30" high? (I am a blank slate with a
black thumb at the moment.)

The only thing I though of was less bending and
stooping. But I am not going to go through that
kind of expense for it to fail.

Many thanks,
-T

I have to disgaree that 12in high is no use and that rasied beds must be
30in. To save bending/stooping is NOT the only reason to have raised beds.
The reasons that you have raised beds a

- Convenience, for those who don't like to, or cannot stoop or squat.
Seat-height walls and with a broad top to sit on is good for this.

- Deeper soil. Whether using native soil, importing or a mix of both it is
often easier and better to build up than excavate down. Excavation below
the topsoil for those not blessed with deep topsoil can bring up unwanted
soil types and/or create a drowning pond. Deep soil is not an absolute
necessity depending on what you grow. There are many veges and flowers that
are shallow rooted.

- Improved drainage. Avoids waterlogging especially in heavy soil. Has
the disadvantage in drought conditions of drying out faster and needing more
watering. In some situations drainage can be a critical factor.

- Faster soil warming.

You get all those benefits to some extent with 12in walls but obviously
30in is better. But 30in costs more, needs more soil and may require more
sophisticated construction techniques to be durable. For the young and fit
in a warm climate reasons 2 and/or 3 may be the only reasons for raised
beds.

Before you start construction, plan your levels and drainage including weep
holes, calculate your materials and don't make the beds wider than you can
comfortably reach to all parts.

A general observation, don't be taken in by Sheldon (Brooklyn1) he
specialises in being as misleading as possible and then getting offensive
when called on it. The annoying thing is that he isn't wrong 100% of the
time or you could just do the opposite of whatever he says.

D