[eryl]

anybody got any ideas what you can use for raised bed borders other than having to buy expensive wood?

[SallyintNorth]

roof tiles!   But depends how "raised" you want them, I guess...

[macgro7]

Pallets, tyres, bricks, paving slabs.

All that stuff can be found for free on freecycle, preloved, gumtree, etc 

[Fleecewife]

The simplest type of raised bed is as Bob Flowerdew of the amazing name has: mounds without edging, and he grows some crops on the slopes and others on the top. I think he refreshes the edges each year.  Even simpler is to grow on the flat.
We have recently made some beds in our polytunnel and we used scaffolding boards. You might be able to get them second hand or scrap, or you can buy them from Wickes.  They are nice and sturdy, about 9 inches deep, one high for a low bed, stacked two high for a deep bed.

[eryl]

have you seen the price of scaffolding boards!!??

[chrismahon]

We have a veg plot with a slight slope and need to level the beds by adding 6" of height to two sides. Tried to find some reclaimed plastic planking but could only find new reinforced plastic which was rather expensive. Decking treated wood planking came up the cheapest option, but still too expensive.

[Q]

a second vote for scaffold boards here - but used ones for me.

Have a look on ebay - these ones are near me - look for item number  - 373445803313.

[doganjo]

Mine are made from sarking planks - 3 metres long

[Possum]

I'm with Q and FW. Ours are made from used scaffolding boards.


Most local scaffolders will have old boards they want to get rid of. They are no longer strong enough to safely support someone at the top of a four storey building, but they are good for holding back soil in a raised bed. Ours were free but we did have to go and collect them with the livestock trailer. They lasted for 8 years.

[Anke]

We do buy treated wood, as thick as we can get it (3mlong x 10" high x between 1 and 2 inches thick) straight from the timber merchant rather than any of the DIY stores, and the beds  last about 10 years (unless you are a bit slapdash with the strimmer as my OH has been). So I think they are a good investment.


I looked into the recycled plastic ones (like the one Huw Richards has on his plot), but they do require a second mortgage if you are talking a family sized garden....