Hardwood mesh lining is a wise decision for a garden bed (2024)
Q.) We are located in Santa Teresa and are planning to plant several large raised beds of garlic this fall probably numbering about 800 plants. And if things go well we have the space to install additional beds the following year.
What I am wondering is whether the beds need to be lined with hardware cloth? I am not aware of any ongoing gopher activity at the planting site, but have seen several references that hardware cloth might be a necessary protection for the crop.
Please let me know your opinion on whether the additional expense and installation time of hardware cloth is a necessity for growing garlic in raised beds. Or is garlic the type of plant that gophers and other rodents tend to avoid?
A.) I will generally suggest hardware cloth or other porous barrier under raised beds in New Mexico because of the prevalence of gophers.Even if you do not have them, “if you build it, they will come.” Gophers appreciate the food that our gardening provides for them.
In doing some checking, I found conflicting information. Some references said that garlic will repel gophers, some companies sell gopher repellent containing garlic oil, but other reference state that gophers will eat garlic. It seems that garlic is not a preferred food for gophers, but if they are hungry enough, they will eat garlic. Some other rodents may feed on garlic leaves in the early spring, but once again, garlic is not a preferred food.
If there is any chance you will grow other crops in the raised beds, then it is even more important to line the bottom with hardware cloth. It is much easier to install the hardware cloth when the beds are first built rather than afterwards when you would need to empty the soil from the beds. If you plan to use wood sides to the raised beds, you may want to wrap hardware cloth from the bottom of the beds under the wooden sides and up the sides 6 inches or more. While gophers rarely leave their tunnels, they can come above ground and are known to be diligent seekers of entries into gardens. They are very capable of chewing through wood.
I am glad you suggested hardware cloth because the mesh should be sufficiently fine to prevent gopher entry.Chicken wire may not have small enough mesh to exclude gophers, so your choice of hardware cloth is wise.Also, a porous base, such as hardware cloth allows drainage through the bottom of the raised bed, reducing the accumulation of mineral salts in the soil. Plant roots can also grow through the mesh into the soil under the bed to mine water and minerals from the under soil. However, any roots that grow through the mesh are subject to gopher attack. For perennial plants with larger roots, the mesh will girdle any roots that grow through the mesh. That may or may not be a problem. In the case of trees and larger shrubs, the hardware cloth could be a problem unless the depth and volume of the raise beds are sufficient to maintain small trees and shrubs. If you grow only garlic, the mesh will be no problem for the roots.
Send your gardening questions to Yard and Garden, Attn: Dr. Curtis Smith at cwsmith@nmsu.edu or leave a message at https://www.facebook.com/NMSUExtExpStnPubs. Curtis W. Smith, Ph.D., is an Extension Horticulture Specialist, retired from New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service.
You can line your raised bed to make it more durable and to prevent toxics from leaching into the soil. For lining, use landscape fabric found at garden supply stores or cloth fabric from clothing. Avoid non-porous plastic, as it can retain too much water and discourage beneficial insects and worms.
Build your raised bed with a decay-resistant type of wood, such as cedar, black cherry, oak (bur, chestnut, post, white), black locust, Osage orange, or redwood. (Source: USDA Forest Products Lab) Use a non-wood material such as stones, concrete blocks, bricks, or synthetic lumber.
Layers of yard debris, such as grass clippings, sticks, branches, trimmings, and leaves, can be beneficial when filling a raised bed for several reasons: Organic Matter: Yard debris is rich in organic matter, which helps to improve soil structure and fertility over time as it decomposes.
They heat up more and dry out a lot faster than level ground, which can be a big disadvantage in very hot or dry climates. They can cost a lot of money to create the frames, and fill the beds with soil, especially if you choose to use Mel's Mix (square foot gardening potting soil).
Raised garden bed lining isn't mandatory to have healthy growing plants. But adding raised garden bed lining does provide benefits. Many experienced gardeners recommend lining raised beds for these reasons: It provides insulation for the soil and helps control temperature fluctuations.
Gravel: While some sites recommend using gravel to improve the drainage capabilities of the soil, that is a longstanding myth. There are other ways to increase drainage that are less troublesome than gravel. Eventually, the soil will mix with the grave and will prove to be very difficult to remove later on.
According to Miles McEvoy, who works in organic certification with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, no pressure-treated wood is allowed in soils used to grow organic food. If you want to meet this high standard, choose a different material.
A strong and stable base is essential for the health and productivity of your raised garden bed. By using the right materials, such as gravel, landscape fabric, sand, compost, cardboard, or soil, you can create a well-draining and nutrient-rich foundation for your plants.
Pine and other framing lumber will last about 4 to 5 years, while more expensive cedar will hang together for 8 to 10 years. Don't use redwood, which is an endangered species.
A good-quality, environmentally friendly wood sealant will improve the durability of your wooden raised bed by protecting it from the elements, particularly the moist soil on the inside. I use a mineral powder made by Eco Wood Treatment.
You Can Use a Layer of Cardboard at the Bottom of Raised Beds to Prevent Weeds. If your budget doesn't allow for weed barrier cloth, you can add several layers of cardboard to the bottom of your raised bed before filling it with soil. The cardboard will decompose in about 4 to 6 months.
We'd thoroughly recommend you use one of our thick, one piece, polypropylene fabric raised bed liners when growing in raised beds on the patio; the porous material of the liner will help water retention, prevent the compost and soil from running out onto the hard surface - possibly causing staining - and will also help ...
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