Raised planters. Sort of.

Before we owned the house apparently a few owners back had this area as a large water feature. The last owner put up these paving slabs and filled with soil. We've been using as planters and last year I finally got something to grow in them! I want to keep the plants and the general height etc but I really don't like how the slabs look. Any ideas for simple ideas to smarten it up a bit or is just a case of pulling it down and starting again?

 

Here's a fairly easy idea for you Hehfaar.

 

Alternative? Treated or not, wood and soil have a limited life together and I'd be worried at the effect your set up's having on both the boundary fence and dividing postwork.

Most concrete makers seem to produce things like paving slabs and my local one sold 'boards' of 6ft x 1ft that have done a similar job for us for the last 12 years (and counting). Almost certainly more expensive but a worthwhile long term investment. Pic attached.

 

@Coachman, the boundary on Hehfaar's picture shows a brick wall. The picture I posted was taken from the internet as an idea, getting wooden posts into my ground would be nigh on impossible.

For the small area that Hehfaar has a problem with it wouldn't take much to replace those posts in the future.

 

As a note, the lower planter is sat on concrete so it's going to be some effort to get posts in (I was hoping to do this myself with assistance from my very strong father in law!)

 

Ah, so that puts the post idea out of the question. You could try and find a reclamation yard where you may pick up some old bricks to build a wall and match the existing boundary wall.

 

All comments taken on board, and mine wouldn't work (as is) because the 'boards' are held up by lengths of stout angle iron driven into the soil. Hehfaar's concrete would prevent that but, if she goes for the brick wall idea, drainage holes will be vital to prevent waterlogging. Good luck.