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View Full Version : Raised bed slightly buried ?


hanabananaman
05-29-2012, 04:32 PM
Hello to all my fellow banana lovers, this is my first post. I am building a raised bed for my first planting and thought about burying a few inches of it to help hold back weeds and grass. Then I thought about whether it would restrict the shallow spreading roots. I dug a 4x4 hole 2 feet deep, loosened up the very bottom and added a bag of cactus mix to the area below 2 feet. The top will all be cactus mix. My native soil is rather sandy and drains fairly well. I need to know how shallow the roots are.
Thanks for your help

sunfish
05-29-2012, 05:10 PM
I don't think it is necessary to bury it unless you have Bermuda grass

hanabananaman
05-29-2012, 10:15 PM
Unfortunately it is bermuda, I am considering lightly brushing the grass with Roundup. Only a few inches around the edge. I usually use very few chemicals and always go organic if possible. Please let me know if anyone is concerned about the roundup. The board that would below grade is 5 1/2" high, it would be easy to make it not as deep if there could be a problem.
Thanks for the help
:2738:

TRAY
05-30-2012, 07:01 AM
I have a thought...clear about 6 inches or whatever around the bed put down some landscape fabric and mulch on top of that. It will serve the purpose and maybe give an added look to the bed as well. (Personally i like and use the red mulch.)

hanabananaman
05-30-2012, 02:38 PM
Thanks for the idea Tray. Last night a neighbor showed me his recently planted apple tree and he is gradually pushing back the bermuda by digging it up and sifting the dirt. The tree is on a slightly elevated mound (3") , the mound is about 36" across right now and he keeps a small moat between the grass and the ever expanding mound. He plans to make it 6' across. I may not use the elevated bed after all. When the circle is about 6' across on my tree I will use your idea for the edge. I think it will look great.:08: