So all my work has been on vain, and I've decide not to bother with the
raised beds at all, a pity.

Think again. I 'threw' 3 up a couple of years ago and the difference is
amazing. The timber I used, stuff removed from a boarded area under the
tiles on the roof, has now all but rotted and we are rebuilding this winter.


Have you considered an incinerator (dustbin with holes in)? - might
allow you to burn you tree trimmings in a smaller, more controlled space
without too much extra time.

We had one of those and it was first class and just as Kay describes, BUT,
when finished with, keep under cover and away from the rain. The galvanising
comes off at the first firing and when wet, rusts away. Also, try not to get
the sides red hot when firing. Because of our lack of space now in the
garden, everywhere is tightly packed, I used the incinerator, standing on
the path, to burn our old kitchen unit sides, tops, drawers etc when we had
a new Farmhouse Kitchen/Diner built in another room. It got red hot and that
didn't d it any good either.


Are you regarding your bonfire as an important source of potash? If not,
then you could take the trimmings to your local recycling centre and not
need the bonfire at all.

That is where a lot of ours go too. We use those big green bags with canvas
handles on. Pack the stuff in tight and put them in the boot and on the back
seat after putting sheets and blankets on the seats first.


Or you could go for even more expense ;-) and get a shredder. You could
use the shredded prunings either as the footpaths between the beds or
you could compost them. Raised beds do well if you add about 6 inches of
compost each year (it all breaks down, so you don't end up with 30 inch
high beds after 5 years!) - it gives really nice loose soil so that
weeds can be pulled out really easily.

It seems to me a shame to abandon year round ease of cultivation for an
event which happens once a year.

Quite agree and everything is so much neater :-))

An 'In Thing' which is far better than the 'Blue Paint/Preservative' theme
which is everywhere :-((

Mike
learning quite a bit about gardening in old age;-)