Gardeners have been building Raised Garden Beds in their gardens for many years. This structure is very convenient in terms of use and growing vegetables, but every year after winter it has to be repaired: the soil inside often sinks and the beds fall apart under the weight of snow and melting water. Let's talk about why Raised Garden Beds sink and how to deal with this problem. You will learn more about The Reason for Raised Garden Beds Subsidence by Bubgo's article.
There are several possible reasons for the loss of structural rigidity of the beds and the sinking of the soil. Let's find out how to prevent beds from sinking caused by various factors.
Subterranean and burrowing mammals (moles, water voles, rats, and other rodents) do not mind making a home for themselves through garden ridges. Not so much in the spring.
Raised Garden Beds can sag significantly and impede rodent access. Therefore, it is recommended that any available rodent control products be used throughout the summer.
1. Sonic insect repellents.
2. Insect repellents.
3. Traps.
4. Traps.
5. poisonous bait.
Note: By the way. Cats and burrowing dogs are great helpers for gardeners to control pests in flower beds. Even the smell of pets can scare away unwanted guests.
Other odors that are unpleasant to rodents. In particular, it is a good idea to hang pieces of cloth soaked in paraffin or to bury damaged herring heads near mole holes and moles. A fine metal mesh can be placed at the bottom of the bed to minimize damage during the installation phase.
Clear, flat borders and geometrically correct construction of Raised Garden Beds usually satisfy the owner only in the first year. Then the natural elements come into play and the framing walls tilt. If they have fallen apart significantly during the summer, we recommend doing this immediately after harvesting from the bed.
1. Shovel the ground away from the curb (rake the ground from the side).
2. Align the wall.
3. Further reinforce the structure and joints by replacing the co-pore material.
You can put the soil back in place in the fall or spring.
Raised Garden Beds "sandwiches" are made by intermixing organic matter with the soil substrate. When all the organic matter has been recycled and has lost its former volume, the bed will naturally sag. A new sandwich must be made by removing the soil from the structure, or it must be added to the desired level.
Note: The standard use time for Raised Garden Beds is 4-5 seasons. Thereafter, it is recommended to repeat the process.
The walls may "cause" sinking due to incorrect choice of material for the installation of Raised Garden Beds. Wooden panels made of relatively soft galvanized iron or corrugated board will begin to bend, and walls made of straight or corrugated slate will break where there is too much pressure. Proper sizing of the paneling, taking into account the fact that they must be sunk 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) into the ground, will solve this problem.
If the structure is stable but the walls do not sink well, the floor may sink: the floor sinks outward and the substrate simply spills over to the bottom of the edge. This problem can be solved by rearranging the structure or by following these guidelines
1. In the spring, while the soil is moist, glue old polycarbonate sheets along the perimeter walls of the raised bed or where gaps appear.
2. Solid walls will hold the structure together and polycarbonate will prevent spillage at the bottom.
3. To make it easier for the thin material to penetrate the floor to the proper depth, it is best to use pieces that are 20-23 inches (50-60 cm) wide and 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) high, equal to the size of the border plus 4-6 inch (10-15 cm).
4. If the board is very high - 15-20 inches (40-50 cm) - it is better to shovel 1/2 of the board height away from the wall.
Important tip: In areas with snowy winters, do not make too long beds. It is best to make several short beds or provide cross bracing for longitudinal walls.
Knowing what to do if a tall bed sinks can help you avoid problems at the formation stage.
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