Homemade wooden planters, plants not thriving

hello
I decided to make some wooden planters, from decking board. My wife has physical difficulties with gardening at ground level, so this was to help her.

They are approx 4’ 6” long and 2’ wide and 3 decking boards tall. I lined the inside with plastic sheeting and filled with 6” of top soil, remainder compost. Looked very good, but I think they have a design flaw in that they don’t have a base, but sit on the garden soil. My thoughts were they would rain naturally, but it seems due to the height, gravity is draining them more than I would like and they dry out very quickly. The plants started well but are now showing signs of water shortage. I am about to set up an automatic trickle water system, but feel that from my post construction research, they need a base, with a plastic lining and drainage holes.

I have considered installing capillary matting about half way down the trough to help retain the moisture, but don’t believe these last very long, so would not be viable.

Seems to me the only course would be to empty the troughs, fit a base plastic lined, with drainage holes ( covered with weed matt to prevent getting blocked with soil ) and standing it on feet, or on top of the stones I already have on the flower bed, t allow the drained water to evaporate.

Any comments would be welcome,.

Thanks

 

Hiya @Reddwarf4ever and to the forum.
No - you haven`t got a design flaw - in my opinion, and I wouldn`t put a base in if I were you.
All of my own raised beds need extra watering at the moment just like pots do because it has been so dry. Even when it rains, they will always need a bit more attention water wise.
What I`ve done - in fact, have been adding to today (early and late because of the heat) is keep adding organic material to help conserve water as much as possible. Mulching is the answer.

Could you post a photo of your beds for us to have a look at please - we like photos

 

Wow, that sounds like good news, all the ones for sale have bases and all the DIY projects I have seen also have them, so I assumed I had done something wrong.

So extra watering and my trickle watering system ( not on a meter yet ) should allow me to keep them moist. But wouldn’t a base slow down the water drainage ? Will take some photos tomorrow and post. I must admit to not being an avid Gardener, but I look after the lawn and put in the plants my wife chooses ( she has a good eye for that and even knows the names of the plants, I can never remember.

I did put a layer of weedmat at the base on top of the garden soil, to help prevent weeds growing, but guess it may be too tall for them.

Hardly get any attention from cats foxes etc, just occasionally....so that’s good...

Thank you

 

No - a base will just restrict the growth of your plants. The water doesn`t just drain away, the sun dries it from the top, and multi purpose compost is awful to keep moist anyway. Just a hose pipe or even a watering can will do the job just fine - your raised bed is not huge so shouldn`t need too much caring for. Adding grit or sharp sand to the soil or compost will help drainage. John Innes soil based composts are best, and when you have your plants in place, water them really really well and then add a nice thick layer of mulch to help keep the moisture in.
I have used spent mushroom compost as mulch before, but at the moment have a nice big heap of ''peat plus'' which I bought online - it has some farmyard manure added, and smells a bit ripe initially - but it`s good stuff and the plants love it.
If you do make any changes, I would definitely get rid of that ''weed mat'' if I were you, as it just makes things much worse .....horrible awful stuff that is .....

 

A base shouldn’t offer any restriction to root growth,

Salvia, labellia, English marigolds, begonias....

as they do no go anywhere near that deep. The weed mat is a single layer over the soil at ground level, can’t see how it will do any harm.

Where did you get your mulch online ?

Will post photos later today

Thanks

 

Business seller information

Carl Dawson Garden & Equestrian Supplies Ltd
Carl Dawson
Station Farm
Station Road
Potter Heigham
Norfolk
NR29 5AD
United Kingdom
Phone:07899|847269
Email:[email protected]

I bought a complete pallet of ''peat plus'' You can also buy spent mushroom compost here.
This is an eBay shop, and I would recommend

 

I know nothing but I agree that a base would be counter productive. The bed will need weeding regularly anyway. I was toying with the idea of using a wooden composting silo (24.99 from B&Q - at least they were in the spring). It is effectively the same as a wooden planter but comes as individual interlocking slats.

G.

 

But it’s confusing when All commercial wooden planters for sale have bases...!!!

 

All wooden planters I have used in the past have had to stand on slabs. I guess they have to be sold as universal to fit in all conceivable situations. Also planters with bases are easier to move making them more user friendly.

I agree that gardening is confusing. It is all new to me. Each time I ask a question I get 5 different answers. My head spins at times.

G.

 

The planters are 1m long 0.5m wide and 0.4m tall, just measured them to be sure...
These are in the sunny side of the garden


The back of the garden


And the right darker side if the garden


Plants fairing so much better in the cooler darker side of the garden...

Almost finished some decorating ( painting indoors ) then I will fit the watering system.....see if that makes a difference...

Thanks

 

Hi
Not just me then, but this applies to everything, I ask for some advice on a pc repair update etc.....and so many different opinions.....bit like amazon reviews ....LOL

 

none of my many raised beds cost anything more than labour. Most of them are made out of broken paving slabs that nobody else wanted. This lot is from 3 years ago as you can see - and they cost nothing.

 

Cool....

 

That is a wonderful idea!
This said, having moved a load of paving slabs in the past, I think that must save a lot in gym's fees too