Raised bed construction

[Gordonmull]

I just wanted to check something before I went ahead with my raised bed construction on the front lawn, if some experienced person would oblige me?

My timber is 7.5" in width and I plan to use weed membrane to kill the grass below the bed this year before forking over to allow access to the soil below next year. I'm planning mustard greens, lettuce and chard in the bed.

Is the bed going to be deep enough at 7.5" for this year or would I be better looking at another veg? The garden only gets full sun for a few hours in the morning and the afternoon so I'm looking at things that would put up with the shade.

[Gordonmull]

[manicscousers]

We grow lettuce and oriental salads in a trough about 5" tall and they do great so I imagine you'll have plenty of depth for them, not sure about chard, we've only ever grown it in the ground  :)

[Pescador]

Chard should be fine with that depth of soil

[Gordonmull]

Thanks folks. Now I know I'm not on the road to disaster, construction will commence.

[chriscross1966]

I'd not waste money on weed membrane, a couple of layers of thick corrugated card will do you... then you won't need to dig in to break thorugh next year, just grow some carrots or parsnips....

[davyw1]

Your road to disaster may be lack of water the way things are with a lack of rain as raised beds require a lot more than none raised beds

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you use membrane, water won't be able to percolate up from below, and they'll dry out in no time. The cardboard idea should work well if you've got perennial weeds to worry about. If it's just grass, there's no need; 7 1/2 inches of soil alone will kill it.