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Need advice for winter hardy raised beds
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Posted by shelli563 zone 5/6 Northern MA (My Page) on Wed, Aug 11, 10 at 16:47
| Hi everyone,
I'm an avid gardener, but have never used raised beds.
I just built a semi-circular retaining bed next to my raised garden pond which is located in the middle of my back yard. The retaining bed is about 36"x24", 18" tall. It is made from large stones. I filled it with equal parts soil and compost. I planted Japanese Forest Grass and Sedum autumn joy.
Also, I'm planning on building some raised beds for my mixed herbs, probably about 4x3, 12" high.
The raised beds are relatively small so I'm wondering if the winter freeze will kill the roots of these plant? Any thoughts?
Thanks, Shelli
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Need advice for winter hardy raised beds
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| Hi Shelli. I'm a zone 3 and have raised beds with perennials in them. Specifically a Autumn Joy in my raised bed for years, along with my more delicate roses, etc. I haven't had any issues with them not holding over winter just fine. Containers are smaller and freeze differently than raised beds. I don't leave them in containers. . |
RE: Need advice for winter hardy raised beds
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Shelli, I'm in a cold zone also and I had asked a while back in the container forum about perennials being hardy in containers since I live in an apartment and have no real garden space.
The info I got was that if the containers are open on the bottom to the soil below, they have a good chance of surviving, otherwise there is not enough of an insulating barrier from freezing temps.
If your perennials are hardy to your zone, they should be fine in a raised bed since the roots have access to deeper soil below and better protection from the cold.
I actually had some chives and thyme survive sub-zero temps last winter that were in large(and very thick)cinder blocks. The holes were open to the ground and the blocks were next to the building, then with a good covering of snow they made it through almost 30 below temps. I was very surprised(but happy). |
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