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D Russell · 01-02-2007, 04:04 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

Sacha wrote:

On 31/1/07 23:38, in article ,
"Pam Moore" wrote:

On 30 Jan 2007 12:19:28 -0800, "80/20"
wrote:

I am thinking of digging it up and covering the area will gravel,
after putting down a mulch sheet.

I also would like to put triangular raised beds on the 4 corners to
grow veg in.

I always wonder, when you see pictures of raised beds, edged with
boards, with nice cleangravel paths between, how you manage to dig and
plant without getting soil on the gravel. You can sweep a paved path,
you can't sweep gravel.
Practical or not?
Just a thought!

Hosepipe wash down?
Whenever I read about raised beds, I envisage trying to get those going
for
myself - it's never going to happen but the concept intrigues me. I'm
5'10"
and have quite a lot of back and neck trouble. By no stretch of the
imagination am I disabled or whatever but I certainly can't dig, a visit
to the supermarket leaves me with backache and the sort of stoop you have
to do
to empty a dishwasher is just the angle that gets me into trouble. So, if
I wanted to have raised beds that truly saved me back ache I'd have to
have raised beds that came to something around chest height which, for me
would
be around 4'or so. Does anyone actually do that? I'm genuinely
interested to hear about this from those with experience.

There was a program on TV some years ago about "sensory gardens", in that
they certainly had raised beds of 3 foot, to allow folks in wheelchairs to
easily interact with the plants. So it's obviously possible, it's just
going to be an issue with building the walls high enough and strong enough
to ensure the bed stays safe I guess.

Duncan