Need suggestions/Help with raised flower bed.

[EvilAngel]

I will be buiulding a raised flower bed along a ceader fence and up against the exterior wall of the house.

What will I need to put against the house to proterct the stucco and what should I put against the fence to prevent it from rotting.

The plan is to build a raised flower bed along the back fence and house. It will be 12 inches deep, 24 inches wide. I bought the bricks for it already 12w-x-4h-x-9d and will stack them staggered atop each other. From what I have read so far I will not need to use mortor due to the weight of each stone and depth of bed. (bricks are 28lbs each) length of bed combined (5 different locations) will be 235 ft...

Am I going to need special plywood or pressure treated wood as a barrier between the house and soil and fence and soil?

[Izzo]

I will be buiulding a raised flower bed along a ceader fence and up against the exterior wall of the house.

What will I need to put against the house to proterct the stucco and what should I put against the fence to prevent it from rotting.

The plan is to build a raised flower bed along the back fence and house. It will be 12 inches deep, 24 inches wide. I bought the bricks for it already 12w-x-4h-x-9d and will stack them staggered atop each other. From what I have read so far I will not need to use mortor due to the weight of each stone and depth of bed. (bricks are 28lbs each) length of bed combined (5 different locations) will be 235 ft...

Am I going to need special plywood or pressure treated wood as a barrier between the house and soil and fence and soil?

A buddy of mine put this landscaping plastic up ... not sure of code out there but after we put in insulation( for example in a finished basement) we have to cover it with plastic ...same stuff, pretty thick ... thats about it..comes in a big roll ..not sure of cost ..i assume cheap

[EvilAngel]

A buddy of mine put this landscaping plastic up ... not sure of code out there but after we put in insulation( for example in a finished basement) we have to cover it with plastic ...same stuff, pretty thick ... thats about it..comes in a big roll ..not sure of cost ..i assume cheap

Yeah, the same kind thats used in making a pond. I'll check that out

Thanks izzo.


For the fence, do you think I'll need to use wood or something to support the wieght of the topsoil?

[Izzo]

Yeah, the same kind thats used in making a pond. I'll check that out

Thanks izzo.


For the fence, do you think I'll need to use wood or something to support the wieght of the topsoil?

I'd use something to protect the fence although i'm not sure what...it will settle


prolly just some plywood or a 2x8 ..depending on size of the bed

[poptom]

Paint the stucco and the fence with asphalt emulsion or whatever they sell nowadays for waterproofing foundations. Leave a small gap between the bottom bricks every few feet as weep holes to avoid build-up of water pressure.

I think the bricks need to be set in mortar and you may want to add an additional rail to the fence at about 12". When the soil is wet, it will tend to push in all directions, not just downward.

--Tom

[De Plano]

As Tom said, make sure there is drainage (not sure what it is like under the spots your putting it or whether you were putting a bottom on the beds or not). Do not use pressure treated wood in any bed (or where run off from PTwood would get into a bed) with veggies or any edibles in it.

Not sure what exactly your planning though. Brick on all four sides?

You should have some space in between the beds and foundation/fence if they are not treated. Maybe even if they are, because there will still be moisture condensation

[Kip Patterson]

Don't know what types of termites you have in your area, but ours has dry season, and if you were to put soil against the stucco you would find your house infested very quickly. We also have carpenter ants which will also be invited by such an arrangement. I wouldn't do it regardless of the barrier used.

[YeOldeStonecat]

If you plan on growing anything in there that you'd eat (herb garden, veggies, etc)...stay away from the treated wood. Know what they use to treat pressure treated wood with? Arsenic. Ya don't want that leaching into your edible plants for you to eat. Or...if you have your own well, you don't want this located near your well where the arsenic can get into your groundwater and into your well.

[downhill]

Don't know what types of termites you have in your area, but ours has dry season, and if you were to put soil against the stucco you would find your house infested very quickly. We also have carpenter ants which will also be invited by such an arrangement. I wouldn't do it regardless of the barrier used.

I'd also go with that advice.

Now if your only going to put the bed against a cement foundation, then do what poptom suggested....Paint the cement. and do a low bed. Keep the top of the dirt at least 6 inches from the top of the foundation.

One other thought. If you were simply looking for impact, instead of a raised bed next to the foundation, simply take the bed out at least 5 and a half feet away from the house. Vary the border, and do use something to keep the grass out. A mow strip works good but so does a myriad of other material. Then mass plant it with annuals. You could mix them up but I find it more striking if you take various plants and work with color schemes......Keep a few perennials here and there for stunning color in early spring.

Of course living where you do...early spring is subjective. Take a ride around your community and look for what catches your eye.