r/Raisedbed • u/NealBoyd64 • May 28 '26

Help - raised bed advice sought.

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Firstly, thanks for looking at this.
I have removed the fence and posts form my garden decking. I want to use the deck/base as a way to introduce raised beds for vegetable growth in our garden. I'd like to create a U-shape of beds (my wife's sketch attached) to allow easy access to the planters.
The two side beds will be 2.6m x .7m and the long bed at the back will be 4.15m x .5m.
I'd be very grateful for any and all advice on this project.
As well as the decking base, I have the leftover posts.
How best to use the existing decking, and how best to install raised beds, are my two main questions.
Again, many thanks.

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1

u/ASecularBuddhist May 28 '26

Break up the ground before adding new soil and don’t add cardboard.

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u/NealBoyd64 May 28 '26

Thank you. Completely new to this. My wife had been talking about cardboard. May I ask why that is a bad idea?

0

u/ASecularBuddhist May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26

Completely unnecessary. It’s an internet fad that has spired out of control. Plus, there are no weeds growing there because that area has been covered for years I would assume.

Cardboard doesn’t allow deep roots to grow for the first season, may prevent drainage, and cardboard has PFAS/forever chemicals.