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#1
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
Hello,
This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? All suggestions will be appreciated. |
#2
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
"Silvercaster" wrote in message om... Hello, This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? Be aware that whatever you treat your timber with will end up in/on your veges. Personally I would not use any treatment but choose a timber that was durable in contact with the soil in local conditions. Google will take you to many informative sites that discuss the durability of redwood in contact with the soil. From a quick survey it seems that the right grade may be suitable without treatment. Do you have whiteants (termites) in your soil? Roughly where are you? How much of the year is it wet? Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? All suggestions will be appreciated. If you use metal fittings they must be treated to resist rust - as in galvanising. I would suggest bolts for strength instead of screws. Unless you brace the middle somehow 8' long planks will tend to bow outwards over time. With a 2" x 12" this may not be enough to bother you. You can avoid fittings and fastenings by using stakes about 2in square to brace the sides. I would use a durable and tough hardwood. If what you call redwood is the same species I have seen it is quite soft and brittle and (although moisture and insect resistent) it will make poor stakes as it will tend to splinter when driven. You can also use steel star pickets that may be black or galvanised, the latter sort are more expensive but will last well. You may want to cap these as the tops can be sharp after being driven with a steel hammer. David |
#3
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
"Silvercaster" wrote in message om... Hello, This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. Have you already gotten the redwood? There is a composite material at Lowes that has a lifespan of 75-100 years and comes in landscape timber size (eight foot long) 4 x 4 and I think a bit larger. Landscape timber size although roughly $6.37 is cheap considering it will last that long, is safe and you can drill it or cut it the way you would wood. Cutting one in half would give you the four foot ends and you drill holes and put short rebar in to secure them. It sounds like you're double digging. A great idea. Be sure to work in some leaves with the soil on the bottom for some slow decaying humus that will hold moisture a bit. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? If you've already gotten the redwood, I wouldn't treat it. Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? galvanized would work, but you can also secure them with drilling holes and putting galvanized gutter spikes which are shorter and don't rust at all and are very affordable. My friend and her husband used those for years as spikes to hold their three high timber sides on all their raised beds. Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? Like I said, galvanized gutter spikes are the best and cheaper and are about the right length. I just burnt some old timbers and was able to salvage the spikes from their timbers because they didn't melt either.! madgardener zone 7, Sunset zone 36 Eastern Tennessee who has always done raised and double dug beds because they get a jump on the season and are easier to work and grow in just be sure to keep a record of who you plant where and remember to rotate those crops. beans in one end one year with corn, etc.........and I hope you know with raised beds you can intensely plant. Tomato's can go as close as 8 inches apart, unless you're using a concrete wire cage............G (any more questions and I'll gladly answer them if you holler at me) All suggestions will be appreciated. |
#4
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
Silvercaster wrote:
Hello, This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? All suggestions will be appreciated. I'm probably gonna put raised beds in my garden this year. I was thinking of using disposable lumber rather than expensive last-forever lumber: I'll get the lowest grade 2x8 or 2x10 SPF (spruce, pine or fir) that I can find that is sort-of straight and not split. I don't care about knots. Then set up the beds and nail them together with 16d nails. The nails will be going into end grain, which doesn't hold very well, but it shouldn't split because I'll be driving them with a pneumatic framing nailer. To keep the boards from bowing out, I'll drive pieces of rebar into the ground next to them. There are few if any termites here, and the wood should last for several years before it needs replacing. That's the idea anyway. Best regards, Bob |
#5
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 22:04:01 -0600, zxcvbob
wrote: Silvercaster wrote: Hello, This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? All suggestions will be appreciated. I'm probably gonna put raised beds in my garden this year. I was thinking of using disposable lumber rather than expensive last-forever lumber: I'll get the lowest grade 2x8 or 2x10 SPF (spruce, pine or fir) that I can find that is sort-of straight and not split. I don't care about knots. Then set up the beds and nail them together with 16d nails. The nails will be going into end grain, which doesn't hold very well, but it shouldn't split because I'll be driving them with a pneumatic framing nailer. To keep the boards from bowing out, I'll drive pieces of rebar into the ground next to them. There are few if any termites here, and the wood should last for several years before it needs replacing. That's the idea anyway. Best regards, Bob Scavenged lumber is always out there to be had for those who keep their eyes open and have a way to haul it. Course I would haul it in, through, on a car. I sure miss my pickup, it was old, sucked gas, but there are too many things I want to haul and cannot anymore. Pickups used to be cheap, then they got popular and now even the old junkers are over a grand used most of the time. *sigh* Janice One who used to judge the worth of a vehicle by how much manure it would haul. |
#6
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 22:04:01 -0600, zxcvbob
wrote: Silvercaster wrote: Hello, This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? All suggestions will be appreciated. I'm probably gonna put raised beds in my garden this year. I was thinking of using disposable lumber rather than expensive last-forever lumber: I'll get the lowest grade 2x8 or 2x10 SPF (spruce, pine or fir) that I can find that is sort-of straight and not split. I don't care about knots. Then set up the beds and nail them together with 16d nails. The nails will be going into end grain, which doesn't hold very well, but it shouldn't split because I'll be driving them with a pneumatic framing nailer. To keep the boards from bowing out, I'll drive pieces of rebar into the ground next to them. There are few if any termites here, and the wood should last for several years before it needs replacing. That's the idea anyway. Best regards, Bob Scavenged lumber is always out there to be had for those who keep their eyes open and have a way to haul it. Course I would haul it in, through, on a car. I sure miss my pickup, it was old, sucked gas, but there are too many things I want to haul and cannot anymore. Pickups used to be cheap, then they got popular and now even the old junkers are over a grand used most of the time. *sigh* Janice One who used to judge the worth of a vehicle by how much manure it would haul. |
#7
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
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#8
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
David,
Living in San Diego with little rainfall and no termites in the soil, do you think untreated 2"x12" redwood will give me at least 5 years? I was going to use redwood 2"x2" spikes at the corners and at the middle of the 8' boards, but maybe I should go with a harder wood, like ceder. you think? Do you think this will hold together sufficently without "L" brackets? Thanks everyone, btw, I will look into the galvanized gutter spikes. Robert "David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ... "Silvercaster" wrote in message om... Hello, This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? Be aware that whatever you treat your timber with will end up in/on your veges. Personally I would not use any treatment but choose a timber that was durable in contact with the soil in local conditions. Google will take you to many informative sites that discuss the durability of redwood in contact with the soil. From a quick survey it seems that the right grade may be suitable without treatment. Do you have whiteants (termites) in your soil? Roughly where are you? How much of the year is it wet? Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? All suggestions will be appreciated. If you use metal fittings they must be treated to resist rust - as in galvanising. I would suggest bolts for strength instead of screws. Unless you brace the middle somehow 8' long planks will tend to bow outwards over time. With a 2" x 12" this may not be enough to bother you. You can avoid fittings and fastenings by using stakes about 2in square to brace the sides. I would use a durable and tough hardwood. If what you call redwood is the same species I have seen it is quite soft and brittle and (although moisture and insect resistent) it will make poor stakes as it will tend to splinter when driven. You can also use steel star pickets that may be black or galvanised, the latter sort are more expensive but will last well. You may want to cap these as the tops can be sharp after being driven with a steel hammer. David |
#9
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
David,
Living in San Diego with little rainfall and no termites in the soil, do you think untreated 2"x12" redwood will give me at least 5 years? I was going to use redwood 2"x2" spikes at the corners and at the middle of the 8' boards, but maybe I should go with a harder wood, like ceder. you think? Do you think this will hold together sufficently without "L" brackets? Thanks everyone, btw, I will look into the galvanized gutter spikes. Robert "David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ... "Silvercaster" wrote in message om... Hello, This is my first time building a raised vegetable garden and have quite a few questions. The garden is going to be a foot deep underground and a foot above ground. The dimentions are going to be 8'x4'. I'm going to use 2"x12" redwood lumber. It's not treated. First, and I've heard yes and no to this question, should I treat the redwood lumber that I am going to build the planter out of? If so, with what? Be aware that whatever you treat your timber with will end up in/on your veges. Personally I would not use any treatment but choose a timber that was durable in contact with the soil in local conditions. Google will take you to many informative sites that discuss the durability of redwood in contact with the soil. From a quick survey it seems that the right grade may be suitable without treatment. Do you have whiteants (termites) in your soil? Roughly where are you? How much of the year is it wet? Second, what kind of "L" brackets and screws will last the longest? Should I use galvinized screws and brackets? if not what? All suggestions will be appreciated. If you use metal fittings they must be treated to resist rust - as in galvanising. I would suggest bolts for strength instead of screws. Unless you brace the middle somehow 8' long planks will tend to bow outwards over time. With a 2" x 12" this may not be enough to bother you. You can avoid fittings and fastenings by using stakes about 2in square to brace the sides. I would use a durable and tough hardwood. If what you call redwood is the same species I have seen it is quite soft and brittle and (although moisture and insect resistent) it will make poor stakes as it will tend to splinter when driven. You can also use steel star pickets that may be black or galvanised, the latter sort are more expensive but will last well. You may want to cap these as the tops can be sharp after being driven with a steel hammer. David |
#10
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
What about painting the outside of a raised bed?
I was looking at establishing three 12"x18"x6-or-8"-high raised mini-beds for placement in front of stone columns. All the house trim is white and bare wood might look out of place--and it is right along the walk. Are there types of paint to avoid? DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email) Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound 1st Year Gardener |
#11
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Raised Vegetable Garden Question
"Silvercaster" wrote in message m... David, Living in San Diego with little rainfall and no termites in the soil, do you think untreated 2"x12" redwood will give me at least 5 years? I was going to use redwood 2"x2" spikes at the corners and at the middle of the 8' boards, but maybe I should go with a harder wood, like ceder. you think? Do you think this will hold together sufficently without "L" brackets? Thanks everyone, btw, I will look into the galvanized gutter spikes. Robert Sorry if I suggested I had experience with redwood in the garden - I don't. It is fairly expensive and very rarely used for garden work here because we have cheaper eucalyptus hardwoods, some of which are durable in contact with the soil. Part of the problem we have is that "redwood" and "cedar" may or may not be the same species where you are and where I am. The cedar that I am used to is also soft and brittle and far too expensive to use for such purposes. My point about using suitable species untreated holds true but I cannot advise you very much about the suitability of the materials that you have available as it is foreign to me. Have you asked your local timber merchant about this? David |
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#15
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