Raised bed foundations

[aaront]

I am going to build some raised flower beds in the garden - 3/4 courses high.

What dimension foundations so I need to lay for a wall that small?

ta

 

[masona]

200mm (w) x 150mm (d) will be okay.

A good link here to help you.

 

[felix]

What kind of sub-soil have you got? If you build those walls on heavy clay you'll be building water tanks! (We made that mistake when we laid a brick path right round the lawn.) You can alleviate drainage problems by having weep holes in the bottom course of bricks; leave the mortar out of the vertical joints.

 

[aaront]

Masona - thanks for the link, thats what I was looking for

Felix - yeah, heavy clay too here, thanks for the tip. Am I right in thinking I can use any old rubber hosing to make the drainage holes with?

 

[felix]

I suppose you can put lengths of hose in if you like but there's no need. Just space the first course of bricks as usual but leave the vertical gaps empty. That's all weep holes are. Put gravel in the bottom of the finished bed so that water can move freely to the holes.