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Belgium

Hi Guys,

I know I have not been around for a while this year. My season is not going to well, since I just got back from a 3 week vacation(pumpkins got NO care). Anyway, I am going to have to move to a new patch next year that actually gets sun, the only problem is it is on a slope and I will need to build a bed to level it out. I would guess the area is around 500 sq. feet, and I was just wondering what I should do to attack the problem. My main question-how do you build a raised bed on hard clay? Any help and advice on what to fill it with would be great.

Thanks,
Jake Byrd

7/11/2006 2:45:02 PM

Phoenix, AZ

I did it with LOTS of back pain. Added about 6" of OM and then tilled in. Since my clay was compacted, just tilling the clay added another 2 inches or so. But when I double tilled (tilled moved dirt aside, retilled) that is when it really "grew".

then I used boards 6 FT X 6" X 1" all around the patch with stakes to keep them in place. These boards should be pretty cheap.

Final thing I did was put in a drainage system. This has worked very well for me.

7/12/2006 9:23:44 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

pick your spot soon...start adding the om now..it will soften up the hard pack and make it easier when ya want to till....burying all the clay is not good...you need it mixed in with the OM...otherwise your CEC will suffer badly.

7/12/2006 1:21:38 PM

Montoursville, PA

Read the last post again!

7/12/2006 2:27:14 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Depending on the angle of the slope one may want to consider what would happen if a lot of rain was received. I had a slope that took out 4' high rail road ties due to a mud slide. You may need to anchor with posts, but its doable and you could add drainage tiles underneath....sound like a lot of fun

7/12/2006 3:40:01 PM

San Jose [email protected]

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bed~const.html

7/12/2006 5:16:22 PM

GreatFalls,Montana

het jake i used railroad tyes for the sides

7/14/2006 11:29:12 PM

Belgium

thanks for the great information guys. I will probably start working on it this week. So-what would you guys fill it with?

7/15/2006 5:25:39 PM

Montoursville, PA

Soil, from the Checkon's patch. :) Plan B...soil from any patch that is sustainable and produced 1200 and above year after year.

7/15/2006 9:58:09 PM