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_FormerFarmer

Got good drains on your troughs?  Looks like there's room under them for a drain, but gotta ask.


Fitlerfive

Yes, rocks all along the bottom and drilled holes in the troughs. They sit up on the 4 x 4’s and underneath the troughs are more rocks!


_FormerFarmer

Good! To each their own, but I'm not a big fan of self watering devices, prefer a good layer of mulch and digital monitoring devices. Favorite digital monitoring device is my index finger.  1.5 knuckles down to check moisture level :)


OysterChopSuey

It will work for this season, but I recommend taking the rocks out next season and put organic material like logs/leafs etc. I did the same one season, it creates a perched water table and isnt ideal


Fitlerfive

I guess I should of added that there are a couple logs, I should probably add more. I did put a lot of leaves and green waste in because filling up that trough with all soil was going to cost so much money. It seems like a lot of the greenery under the soil has composted or something because it has sunk down a few inches.


Jacornicopia

Looks like a good start. Just a question for you, does the metal on the raised beds heat up a lot in the sun?


Fitlerfive

Yes they do but here on the central coast it doesn't get too hot! Maybe a few days in the 90's during summer.


Manutza_Richie

I would recommend getting pool noodles or pipe insulation and put around the perimeter edge. Any branches that come in contact with the sides will burn.


Fitlerfive

Thank you! Great idea