Just finished building my four 4'x8'x20" raised beds w/ trex boards

ASFx2600 · May 31, 2010

After a couple months of research, I decided to go with Trex boards to build my beds. Although it was a little expensive, I figured it was worth the extra cost to not have to worry about them rotting after 3-5 years. The boards are 5 inches thick, so i did four layers for a total of 20 inches high. The corners are made with 4x4 cedar blocks. As you can see, i extended the sides on two of the beds to a full 8ft high for the trellis netting (netting not yet attached).

The ground in my back yard is as hard as a rock, so I really didn't want to dig more than necessary. Instead of attempting to dig holes for stakes along the outside, I decided to connect the two middle posts on each bed with two more 4ft lengths to act as tension boards. I also adjusted the length of the corners so they'd come out longer on the side toward the walking path, and keep the beds level. Now that the beds are built, I plan to cover the walking paths with pebbles, so the gaps under the beds will no longer be visible.

veggie babe · May 31, 2010

very nice, great job. Wish I had about 6 of those beds, you can grow some serious produce.

Neva

attilla1000 · May 31, 2010

They look great! What are you going to use to fill them up?

VORTREKER · May 31, 2010

Super job. How you going to pay off your loan for those Trex boards.

VORTREKER · May 31, 2010

How much sun does the area get?

Sherry_AK · May 31, 2010

Beautiful! The only concern I would have is that once the weight of the soil is added, the sides might bow outward. Trex is pretty flexible that way. We have a deck of that material and I just love it, but even with the proper/recommended support underneath, I can see little sags here and there.

What will you grow in those nice boxes?

Sherry

ASFx2600 · June 7, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by attilla1000

They look great! What are you going to use to fill them up?

I filled them with an organic mix from gro-well.com.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VORTREKER

Super job. How you going to pay off your loan for those Trex boards.

Paid cash and used a 10% off coupon

Quote:

Originally Posted by VORTREKER

How much sun does the area get?

It gets about 7-8 hours during the summer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherry_AK

Beautiful! The only concern I would have is that once the weight of the soil is added, the sides might bow outward. Trex is pretty flexible that way. We have a deck of that material and I just love it, but even with the proper/recommended support underneath, I can see little sags here and there.

What will you grow in those nice boxes?

Sherry

I used a very light fluffy soil made from 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 compost with a lot of extra additives like worm castings, bat guano, etc. I did consider possible bowing of the 8ft sides, so what i did was cut 4ft sections, then laid them across the middle of the beds between the two middle posts to act as tension boards in case the sides want to try and bow later. They won't be able to

ASFx2600 · June 7, 2010

Here are some new pics of the completed beds with stones and grass put in.

matereater · June 7, 2010

great looking setup!!

Alberta · June 7, 2010

those beds look great!!!

ASFx2600 · July 18, 2010

Here's a photo update. Everything looking good so far

Im very happy with it. Tomato's will be going in the back bed with the mylar film on it. We've been having a heatwave here in Vegas lately (115+ degrees), so i've been holding off on planting more for a couple more weeks.

Tomatillos in the front, bush beans in 18 squares (9 per square), pickling cucumbers on the back left trellis, and blue lake pole beans on the back right trellis

Icebox watermelons, and spaghetti squash to the left of the watermelons.

Fairytale eggplant just starting to fruit in the last few days. They really seem to be enjoying the 115+ degree heat.

Paul R · July 18, 2010

Very, very nice!
Keep us posted.

Paul R

geeboss · July 18, 2010

Everything is looking great!!!......soon you'll be enjoying those eggplants.

George

ASFx2600 · August 9, 2010

Just harvested 10 of the eggplants and had them for dinner a few nights ago. They were really delicious. We put them in a salad which was made with leaves i had also harvested from full sized romaine lettuce leaves which i grew under my LED lights as an experiment.

Here's a few updated pics. Everything is doing pretty awesome considering the 110 degree heat in july. It's been getting a bit cooler now, but still around 100 degrees during the day. It's just so neat to see watermelons hanging from a trellis like this. I never thought it was possible until just recently. They're the icebox variety so they won't get too huge.. about 6-10 pounds from what i've read.

Timmah! · August 9, 2010

Looking great man! Should get the dude that visited to return & make a followup video.

May 31, 2010	#1
ASFx2600 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 40	Just finished building my four 4'x8'x20" raised beds w/ trex boards After a couple months of research, I decided to go with Trex boards to build my beds. Although it was a little expensive, I figured it was worth the extra cost to not have to worry about them rotting after 3-5 years. The boards are 5 inches thick, so i did four layers for a total of 20 inches high. The corners are made with 4x4 cedar blocks. As you can see, i extended the sides on two of the beds to a full 8ft high for the trellis netting (netting not yet attached). The ground in my back yard is as hard as a rock, so I really didn't want to dig more than necessary. Instead of attempting to dig holes for stakes along the outside, I decided to connect the two middle posts on each bed with two more 4ft lengths to act as tension boards. I also adjusted the length of the corners so they'd come out longer on the side toward the walking path, and keep the beds level. Now that the beds are built, I plan to cover the walking paths with pebbles, so the gaps under the beds will no longer be visible.

May 31, 2010	#3
attilla1000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: PA. Posts: 32	Impressive! They look great! What are you going to use to fill them up?

May 31, 2010	#4
VORTREKER Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pottsboro Texas 7B-8A TRANSITION ZONE Posts: 77	BEDS Super job. How you going to pay off your loan for those Trex boards. __________________ Have you gardened all of your life? Not yet.

May 31, 2010	#5
VORTREKER Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pottsboro Texas 7B-8A TRANSITION ZONE Posts: 77	How much sun does the area get? __________________ Have you gardened all of your life? Not yet.

June 7, 2010	#9
matereater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. Michigan (Livonia) Posts: 1,264	great looking setup!! __________________ Steve Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

May 31, 2010	#2
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	very nice, great job. Wish I had about 6 of those beds, you can grow some serious produce. Neva

May 31, 2010	#6
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	Beautiful! The only concern I would have is that once the weight of the soil is added, the sides might bow outward. Trex is pretty flexible that way. We have a deck of that material and I just love it, but even with the proper/recommended support underneath, I can see little sags here and there. What will you grow in those nice boxes? Sherry

June 7, 2010	#10
Alberta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mastic, NY Posts: 212	those beds look great!!!

July 18, 2010	#11
ASFx2600 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 40	Here's a photo update. Everything looking good so far Im very happy with it. Tomato's will be going in the back bed with the mylar film on it. We've been having a heatwave here in Vegas lately (115+ degrees), so i've been holding off on planting more for a couple more weeks. Tomatillos in the front, bush beans in 18 squares (9 per square), pickling cucumbers on the back left trellis, and blue lake pole beans on the back right trellis Icebox watermelons, and spaghetti squash to the left of the watermelons. Fairytale eggplant just starting to fruit in the last few days. They really seem to be enjoying the 115+ degree heat.

July 18, 2010	#12
Paul R Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Avilla IN Posts: 300	Very, very nice! Keep us posted. Paul R

July 18, 2010	#13
geeboss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fairfax, VA Z7 Posts: 524	Everything is looking great!!!......soon you'll be enjoying those eggplants. George

August 9, 2010	#14
ASFx2600 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 40	Just harvested 10 of the eggplants and had them for dinner a few nights ago. They were really delicious. We put them in a salad which was made with leaves i had also harvested from full sized romaine lettuce leaves which i grew under my LED lights as an experiment. Here's a few updated pics. Everything is doing pretty awesome considering the 110 degree heat in july. It's been getting a bit cooler now, but still around 100 degrees during the day. It's just so neat to see watermelons hanging from a trellis like this. I never thought it was possible until just recently. They're the icebox variety so they won't get too huge.. about 6-10 pounds from what i've read.

August 9, 2010	#15
Timmah! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elizabethtown, Kentucky 6a Posts: 754	Looking great man! Should get the dude that visited to return & make a followup video.