AboutMike Mascio Expertise I have been an avid gardener since 1985 and an AllExpert volunteer since
1998. I specialize in soil preparation, seed starting and plant
propagation, flowers, vegetables, and general landscaping. I am a strong
advocate of the square foot method of gardening and the use of organic
controls for pests and diseases.
Please help… we have a sunny area in the back that is paved with cement. I think it’s the perfect spot for a few raised bed gardens, but my husband has some legitimate questions about how we’d keep dirt from sort of washing out the bottom of it, all over our patio.
Can you help? Do people ever staple liners of some sort on the bottom of their raised beds? How could we provide the ability to drain and also prevent dirt from washing out all over our nice patio?
Also, how deep do raised beds need to be? I’d like to plant vegetables and flowers.
Thank you!!
Signed,
A newbie but ambitious gardener
(Diane)
Answer Diane, I would not use concrete as a foundation for your new garden. Regardless of what you line the cement with, you will still experience runoff. Plus, the soil needs to be at least 12" in depth in order for the root systems of many plants to prosper. Finally, drainage would be a real problem, which in the long run, could result in root-rot, a deadly disease which deprives the plants of oxygen and nutrients.
If you have a small section in your yard, I would suggest starting with a 4X8 area and framing it with cedar or a rot-resistant wood. With the yard as the foundation, you only need 8" depth. This would result in your best opportunity for a successful garden.
Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.
