Grid and weed barrier fabric
A raised bed without a grid is not a Makkelijke Moestuin. Full stop.
A grid like that divides your raised bed into 30 x 30 cm squares. It keeps your garden clear and efficient, and your vegetables get exactly the space they need to grow well.
Weed barrier fabric stops weeds from growing up into your raised bed from below. That means you hardly need to weed.
Grid
The grids need to be clearly visible and easy to use.
With our raised beds, we supply white plastic strips that are 2 cm wide. They look super neat, last almost forever, are easy to clean, and are flexible too.
Loose on top of the mix, and preferably flexible
A grid like that rests loose on top of the mix. That's handy, because over the season the mix always sinks a little. The grid simply sinks with it.
Because it is flexible, you can also lift it a little to add plant food and turn over the mix. And when you turn over your whole raised bed in spring, you just take the grid off for a moment.
The only downside is that these grids are not cheap. But they last a long time and are nicer to use than anything else.
How do you make your own grids?
The strips I use are 2 cm wide and 3 mm thick. For a 120 x 120 cm raised bed, you need 6 strips of about 120 cm (though I usually cut them to 119 cm myself).
- cut your strips to size
- drill holes at the right distance
- fasten the strips together
To fasten the strips together, I use white plastic binding screws. They match the strips nicely and last just as long. Bolts and nuts work too, but if they are not stainless steel, they will rust eventually :)
Weed barrier fabric
To stop weeds that are still in the ground from growing up into your raised bed later, lay a piece of weed barrier fabric underneath. You can buy it at a garden centre or DIY store. Pay attention to the material, because some fabrics break down after a few years. Then they are no use to you :)
(It is better not to buy the black plastic weed membrane you usually see either. It frays quickly and does not drain nearly as well, so the roots at the bottom can start to rot. The fabric we use is often called fleece fabric or mulch fabric.)
(It is better not to buy the black plastic weed membrane you usually see either. It frays quickly and does not drain nearly as well, so the roots at the bottom can start to rot. The fabric we use is often called fleece fabric or mulch fabric.)
Make it 10 to 20 cm wider and longer than your raised bed, put your raised bed in its chosen spot, and lay the weed barrier fabric inside.
On a patio or balcony
On a tiled patio or on a balcony, I would use a raised bed with a base.
But if you are sure you will not need to move your raised bed again, you can also place a raised bed without a base there. In that case, lay weed barrier fabric inside too, so there is still a layer between the mix and the tiles.
With a raised bed with a base, lay the weed barrier fabric on the bottom. That stops the mix from washing away through the drainage holes.
Got your grid and weed barrier fabric ready? Then we will move on to the trellis:
But if you are sure you will not need to move your raised bed again, you can also place a raised bed without a base there. In that case, lay weed barrier fabric inside too, so there is still a layer between the mix and the tiles.
With a raised bed with a base, lay the weed barrier fabric on the bottom. That stops the mix from washing away through the drainage holes.
Got your grid and weed barrier fabric ready? Then we will move on to the trellis:
