Raised Beds Question

whoose · December 26, 2015

I am going to convert some of my outside containers (starting the fall apart) with a raised bed. I plan to use cedar 2X10 or 2X12. My question is that here in the wild west we have lots of creatures that live in the soil, moles, voles, and several other types ground pests.

So the question is should I put some fine mess wire on the bottom of the raised bed. I know that the roots will want to grow into the native soil but I think the size of the mess will allow for this growth. I do not want the critters in my bed.

Ideas or comments please.

Worth1 · December 26, 2015

Hardware cloth.

Worth

AlittleSalt · December 26, 2015

You could use treated plywood for the bottom of the bed. Using 2x12s for the sides allows for 11" deep soil which is deep enough for most flowers and veges.

b54red · December 26, 2015

I agree with the hardware cloth and wouldn't totally close up the bottom as the plants should do better if some of them can go deep. Or you could just get some miniature dachshunds and they will dig the critters out. Of course they will make a mess but they are persistent little buggers and will keep after any kind of ground digging critters til they get them.

Bill

Gardeneer · December 26, 2015

Another vote for Hardware Cloth.
Plywood eventually will rot and fall apart. Plus , it can compromise drainage.

Gardeneer

TomatoDon · December 27, 2015

Most places do have voles, moles, etc. Also, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, coons, green hornworms, neighbors, and relatives. I've never heard of anyone putting mesh on the bottom of a raised bed to stop the voles or moles. What if they crawl over the top and burrow in? I've used raised beds for years and have never seen a vole or mole in the raised beds. If you must use something on the bottom, use hardware cloth.

Use treated 2 x 12's. It won't hurt you. If you think it will, tack visqueen up and line the entire inside walls with it. Put the top just below the surface you plan to have so the dirt will cover it. It you don't want to have to lean over so much, stack them, making the bed 24" high (or actually around 22" high, since a 2 x 12 isn't full cut).

If you are new to raised beds, you will be amazed at how much "soil" it will require to fill them. Hay makes a good, cheap filler, but you will have to add more every season since it compacts a lot the first year, especially. After a few seasons it will be fine, and it gets better with age.

If you do it right, I can think of no better way to grow tomatoes than with raised beds.

Worth1 · December 27, 2015

I dont have any ground burrowing animals where I live that hurt gardens or at least mine.
Right up the road where it is sandy they have gophers.
Gophers dont normally climb over things to get to roots and plants.
What they do is tunnel down the row and pull whole plants into the tunnels.
Later the surviving larger plants will start to die as they eat the roots.

Worth

AlittleSalt · December 27, 2015

We have tunnel digging critters. Some years are worse than others. Back in the earlier 1990s, there was one area at the end of our house by a water faucet that at least one kept digging. I stepped on one of the tunnels and it collapsed. I filled it with dirt. A few days later, in the same place - same results, so I filled it with cement.

In 2011, they were so bad that I went to a feed store and bought one of those conical shaped containers of mole bait. That stuff is dangerous. It will kill anything that eats it including dogs. I carefully used it in the fenced garden only and never let the dog go into it. The bait must have worked because we don't see the tunnels near as much sense.

I also agree with Worth about using the hardware cloth on most raised beds.

Gardeneer · December 27, 2015

We get moles too. But they are only interested in grubs and worms. But they do make a mess.
I almost got rid of them. Then they come from the neighbors yards.

rockman · January 25, 2016

when you raise your beds that tall, do you water till your plants reach the dirt level. I have 60'x30" rows with treated 2x4's with 30"grass walk in between rows I mow. I sometimes have to water to get the plants down to moisture. Sure is nice walking in the garden after a rain,no muddy shoes! I have many moles and a few voles. I use peanut butter on mouse trap for voles and the green mole worms from Menards. At last resort the mole trap. The new scissor trap is easy and nearly 100%. If you want to relocate moles,you can bury a gal. paint can in the run,then a pvc pipe out of the run half way over the can. You may have to entice him with a little dirt,worms, or grubs in the can. rockman

Gardeneer · January 26, 2016

My rough figure is 1.5 inch. That is close to 2 gallons per sq-ft area.
You need to adjust that depending on the heat.

Gardeneer

rockman · January 27, 2016

Our garden is 50% sand being in a flood plain. No moisture is a problem. It can rain all day, next day I
can work in the garden. Iv'e built up the soil for years only to loose it. This Fall I built a current deflector in the front and on the creek side. The garden will still be flooded but it is the current that does damaged. I've actually picked beets with hip waders on. They sure came up clean! rockman

December 26, 2015	#1
whoose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b Posts: 333	Raised Beds Question I am going to convert some of my outside containers (starting the fall apart) with a raised bed. I plan to use cedar 2X10 or 2X12. My question is that here in the wild west we have lots of creatures that live in the soil, moles, voles, and several other types ground pests. So the question is should I put some fine mess wire on the bottom of the raised bed. I know that the roots will want to grow into the native soil but I think the size of the mess will allow for this growth. I do not want the critters in my bed. Ideas or comments please.

December 27, 2015	#6
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Most places do have voles, moles, etc. Also, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, coons, green hornworms, neighbors, and relatives. I've never heard of anyone putting mesh on the bottom of a raised bed to stop the voles or moles. What if they crawl over the top and burrow in? I've used raised beds for years and have never seen a vole or mole in the raised beds. If you must use something on the bottom, use hardware cloth. Use treated 2 x 12's. It won't hurt you. If you think it will, tack visqueen up and line the entire inside walls with it. Put the top just below the surface you plan to have so the dirt will cover it. It you don't want to have to lean over so much, stack them, making the bed 24" high (or actually around 22" high, since a 2 x 12 isn't full cut). If you are new to raised beds, you will be amazed at how much "soil" it will require to fill them. Hay makes a good, cheap filler, but you will have to add more every season since it compacts a lot the first year, especially. After a few seasons it will be fine, and it gets better with age. If you do it right, I can think of no better way to grow tomatoes than with raised beds. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

January 25, 2016	#10
rockman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: fortville,IN 46040 Posts: 140	when you raise your beds that tall, do you water till your plants reach the dirt level. I have 60'x30" rows with treated 2x4's with 30"grass walk in between rows I mow. I sometimes have to water to get the plants down to moisture. Sure is nice walking in the garden after a rain,no muddy shoes! I have many moles and a few voles. I use peanut butter on mouse trap for voles and the green mole worms from Menards. At last resort the mole trap. The new scissor trap is easy and nearly 100%. If you want to relocate moles,you can bury a gal. paint can in the run,then a pvc pipe out of the run half way over the can. You may have to entice him with a little dirt,worms, or grubs in the can. rockman Last edited by rockman; January 25, 2016 at 10:39 PM. Reason: adding to message

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December 26, 2015	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Hardware cloth. Worth

December 26, 2015	#3
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	You could use treated plywood for the bottom of the bed. Using 2x12s for the sides allows for 11" deep soil which is deep enough for most flowers and veges.

December 26, 2015	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I agree with the hardware cloth and wouldn't totally close up the bottom as the plants should do better if some of them can go deep. Or you could just get some miniature dachshunds and they will dig the critters out. Of course they will make a mess but they are persistent little buggers and will keep after any kind of ground digging critters til they get them. Bill

December 26, 2015	#5
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Another vote for Hardware Cloth. Plywood eventually will rot and fall apart. Plus , it can compromise drainage. Gardeneer

January 26, 2016	#11
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	My rough figure is 1.5 inch. That is close to 2 gallons per sq-ft area. You need to adjust that depending on the heat. Gardeneer

January 27, 2016	#12
rockman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: fortville,IN 46040 Posts: 140	Our garden is 50% sand being in a flood plain. No moisture is a problem. It can rain all day, next day I can work in the garden. Iv'e built up the soil for years only to loose it. This Fall I built a current deflector in the front and on the creek side. The garden will still be flooded but it is the current that does damaged. I've actually picked beets with hip waders on. They sure came up clean! rockman