I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

In article , (Steve Harris) writes:
| I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
| making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
| drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
| sandy soil.
|
| So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?
|
| Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
| specified as what any plant wants!

Don't believe it! Many of the "Mediterranean" plants like that,
but you will need to make the beds fairly deep for them.

In article , (Steve Harris) writes:
| I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
| making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
| drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
| sandy soil.
|
| So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?
|
| Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
| specified as what any plant wants!

Don't believe it! Many of the "Mediterranean" plants like that,
but you will need to make the beds fairly deep for them.

In article , (Steve Harris) writes:
| I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
| making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
| drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
| sandy soil.
|
| So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?
|
| Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
| specified as what any plant wants!

Don't believe it! Many of the "Mediterranean" plants like that,
but you will need to make the beds fairly deep for them.

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

As long as you incorporate drainage at the base of your raised bed then it
will be much the same as a large patio planter. Alternatively you could
deliberately not drain, and have a bog garden.

This sounds a good use of a redundant area of concrete, and also a way to
get better/different soil conditions.

You say the concrete is in the shade - that will limit what will grow well,
but that would be the same if you removed the concrete and planted directly
in the underlying soil.

You will obviously have to water the beds, and generally treat as a large
patio planter, but it sounds worth doing :-)

HTH
Dave R

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

As long as you incorporate drainage at the base of your raised bed then it
will be much the same as a large patio planter. Alternatively you could
deliberately not drain, and have a bog garden.

This sounds a good use of a redundant area of concrete, and also a way to
get better/different soil conditions.

You say the concrete is in the shade - that will limit what will grow well,
but that would be the same if you removed the concrete and planted directly
in the underlying soil.

You will obviously have to water the beds, and generally treat as a large
patio planter, but it sounds worth doing :-)

HTH
Dave R

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

As long as you incorporate drainage at the base of your raised bed then it
will be much the same as a large patio planter. Alternatively you could
deliberately not drain, and have a bog garden.

This sounds a good use of a redundant area of concrete, and also a way to
get better/different soil conditions.

You say the concrete is in the shade - that will limit what will grow well,
but that would be the same if you removed the concrete and planted directly
in the underlying soil.

You will obviously have to water the beds, and generally treat as a large
patio planter, but it sounds worth doing :-)

HTH
Dave R

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Drainage should not be too much of a problem. You should make sure that any
excess water can escape by leaving sufficient gaps here and there. And you could
fill the bottom of the beds with rubble.

There are LOADS of plants that like moist shade........."~)

Jenny

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Drainage should not be too much of a problem. You should make sure that any
excess water can escape by leaving sufficient gaps here and there. And you could
fill the bottom of the beds with rubble.

There are LOADS of plants that like moist shade........."~)

Jenny

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Drainage should not be too much of a problem. You should make sure that any
excess water can escape by leaving sufficient gaps here and there. And you could
fill the bottom of the beds with rubble.

There are LOADS of plants that like moist shade........."~)

Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Drainage should not be too much of a problem. You should make sure that any
excess water can escape by leaving sufficient gaps here and there. And you
could
fill the bottom of the beds with rubble.

There are LOADS of plants that like moist shade........."~)

Jenny

I forgot to add that all the beds in my town garden are raised beds placed
directly on concrete
tiles.........:http://members.rott.chello.nl/ldejag...ex.welcome.htm


Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Drainage should not be too much of a problem. You should make sure that any
excess water can escape by leaving sufficient gaps here and there. And you
could
fill the bottom of the beds with rubble.

There are LOADS of plants that like moist shade........."~)

Jenny

I forgot to add that all the beds in my town garden are raised beds placed
directly on concrete
tiles.........:http://members.rott.chello.nl/ldejag...ex.welcome.htm


Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.

So, could I then grow plants that love damp and shady places?

Or would I just have dry but poorly drained soil which I've never seen
specified as what any plant wants!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Drainage should not be too much of a problem. You should make sure that any
excess water can escape by leaving sufficient gaps here and there. And you
could
fill the bottom of the beds with rubble.

There are LOADS of plants that like moist shade........."~)

Jenny

I forgot to add that all the beds in my town garden are raised beds placed
directly on concrete
tiles.........:http://members.rott.chello.nl/ldejag...ex.welcome.htm


Jenny

Steve Harris wrote:
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.



provided you put a 15cm ?? shigle drainage layer at the bottom amd adequate
drainage gaps at the bottom of the bed walls and have min 18" soil, there
should be no problem.

pk

Steve Harris wrote:
I have some shady redundant concrete areas and I was wondering about
making raised beds directly on them? These, I realise might have poor
drainage but the main problem I have here is extremely well drained
sandy soil.



provided you put a 15cm ?? shigle drainage layer at the bottom amd adequate
drainage gaps at the bottom of the bed walls and have min 18" soil, there
should be no problem.

pk