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Raised Beds Look High!

MayLaneMayLane Posts: 203
in Garden design

I've had some raised beds put in to over come soil depth issues but they look really high. They are two railway sleepers tall and it looks like a lot of wood and rather clumsy. 

The sleepers are taller than I imagined. 

Will I get use to it?  My garden isn't large and we have a lower patio with steps up to the garden and then these raised beds. I have lots of plants to fill them but it won't disguise them. 

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Two railway sleepers tall, even if they are on their sides, will still only be about 16 inches. I think you will get used to them! Once they weather dow they will not be so noticeable - that is if you got new ones. 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,081

    Sometimes a bit of hard landscaping can look overwhelming, until you get the plants in. 

    I have raised beds of varying heights round my (quite small) garden. It creates the illusion of a sunken area as the house is also elevated. Makes for good privacy, so don't see it as a negative - see it as an asset!   image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,847

    We have a raised bed the length of our garden edged by two sleepers on edge - you  need some trailing plants to break up the solid appearance of the edge image

    Last edited: 17 March 2017 15:18:47


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Bright starBright star Posts: 1,152

    You could grow trailing plans at the front of the bed to soften it, I'm sure when it's all planted up it will look beautiful and the wood will fade into the background somewhat. I've been looking at a new smaller variety of clematis that is suitable for hanging baskets, perhaps it would work well in your new raised bed too.

    Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

  • LynLyn Posts: 21,896

    They will look lovely planted up, you could put some Trailing Lobelia at the front edges, also Aubretia and Erigeron, that will give flowers right through from Spring to Autumn. I'm sure there are lots more, trailing ivy will be evergreen.

    When the fashion for raised beds first started, many years ago, they were at least 2' high, or more, now people put a scaffold plank around their lawn, so anything goes, yours will look good.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,051

    oops

    Last edited: 17 March 2017 17:41:57

    Devon.
  • Nick74Nick74 Posts: 44

    Maylane - are they proper (old) railway sleepers or the new sleepers? If they're new, they'll whether soon enough.   As Bright Stat suggests, grow traillers over it, or you could grow plants in front of it. Maybe something to contrast with the wood's colour? 

    My beds are 2 sleepers high, and currently have some nice bright narcissus in front of them. 

    image

  • MayLaneMayLane Posts: 203

    Thank you. They are the new sleepers and do look bright. I think some ferns might be nice in front of them Mixed with bulbs.

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