Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Feb 15, 2010 1:09 pm Hi all. I would really appreciate some help on what material to choose with my garden wall. I already have chosen tasman blocks for the wall itself, but that's not the problem. I plan on placing the wall alongside a ratty old wooden fence, so I can not just have the soil up against this fence. The wall is only going to be about 50cm high. The guy who is supplying the blocks suggests putting 'blue board' supported with 'star droppers'. I am unsure if blue board will be strong enough and also I would prefer heritage green so it looks Ok from the other side (fence runs parallel with public walkway and also has slats, making it somewhat see-through). If anyone can suggest a better material/method, etc that would be great. Blue board uses here would also be appreciated as the block supplier seems to recommend it. I just want to do some research before I commit. Cheers Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 2Feb 15, 2010 3:56 pm Don't really understand what you are trying to do. Is the wall a retaining wall to keep the soil off the fence ? Do the fence and wall run parallel ? A bit more info or a photo would help. Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 3Feb 15, 2010 4:08 pm Hi Keen. I can't seem to upload (quota reached or some nonsense). Yes, the fence and wall will run parallel with each other. The wall is so my wife can grow plants so we can have more privacy. There will be a line of blocks, then soil, then some other material to keep soil off shody broken down horrible (strata/water board) fence. Thanks for your help. Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 4Feb 15, 2010 10:20 pm You need to use an external photo hosting account and link the photo location inside the image tags above [img] your photo location [/img ] I understand what you are doing and building raised garden beds is a fantastic idea. They allow far more control over soil health and improved drainage in poor soils is easier if you install ag drains down the bottom of the beds Pretty sure it was moderator Adrian who did just as you are thinking. It will look fine. Just paint the board before you install it. Maybe drop some timber posts in and screw the board to that. Otherwise in time the star pickets will rust and then the fence has pressure on it. At mine I did a double row of limestone. One at the front and one at the back. Limestone is easy to get here in WA because we have bloody tonnes of the stuff. Easy to work with too Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 6Feb 16, 2010 6:03 am We're doing the same thing - a raised planter along our fence line, built from concrete blocks. Since we're paying someone to do it for us, I don't know all the details, but I'm sure it's going to be concrete blocks all round. They're starting tomorrow, I'll post some pics when there's something to see. Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 7Feb 16, 2010 11:25 am Thanks for your help so far guys. We can't really have blocks on both sides as there are obstructions as well as limited space (being a townhouse back yard). It would be nice though. I live in NSW, can you please post me some Limestone 'Fu Manchu'? ahahaha. If you think that blue board is the best non-block option then I will go with that and look into getting it painted. Any other ideas or pics will be welcomed. Should the blue board be buried a bit or just touch the bottom? And is it necessary to install drainage for such a short wall (46cm High)? Thanks all. Cheers. Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 8Feb 16, 2010 11:26 pm Buried a bit and I would use timber posts not star pickets. Paint it before you install them Don't worry about what it looks like. You won't see it in the years to come as your garden goes nuts in great soil Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 9Mar 06, 2010 8:59 am Thanks for your help. I am still wondering a few things. * Drainage needed for such a short wall (ag pipe)? * Blueboard is best for this situation? OR 'Hardie Flex' (compressed fibre cement) or something else? * I don't want to use wood though (instead of star pickets), but is there a rust proof/resistant version? * I will though 'dig it in a bit' Cheers Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 10Mar 06, 2010 12:28 pm Please once the garden is completed use a green mulch and even go all out and layer straw under it. This starts the essential cycle of building and creating new soils as well as puts the only possible means in place to continue a cycle of soil health. fertilisers and fungicides and pesticides won't be required anywhere as much, if at all. This will result in an actual easy care garden. It will really be low maintenance. Unlike gardens that have no such means of creating soil microbes or creating the new soils as older soils are used up by the plants. The gardens that don't embrace that concept will forever cost you a fortune in fertilisers, pest problems, weeds, weed sprays and the time required to apply them. This then leaves you wide open to having to constantly fix something and the need to seek out garden advice which then puts you in contact more than likely with muppets (Horts and gardeners or pimply kids with little or no training nor understanding of the products they sell and the consequences of their use) which further cost you and the environment some critical damage. Now that my rant is over, We still don't know where in NSW you are located. This will tell us what the climate is like and the soil type you have. This will allow me and others to see what drainage if any is needed. Use blue board down the back but have a few treated posts per sheet so it doesn't bow out under the pressure of the soil over time. Use metal stakes and they'll rust and be very hard to replace in time to come. No there is not a rust proof version. They will rust, galv or not. Galv will be very expensive. So if you do feel compelled to use a metal star picket then use a galvanised one. I can assure you that you will be wishing you used posts in a few years when the backing gives way and starts pushing the fence. Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 11Mar 06, 2010 12:40 pm WiNmaKlIn * Blueboard is best for this situation? OR 'Hardie Flex' (compressed fibre cement) or something else? Just wondering if concrete sleepers would be a viable option. (We're thinking of doing something along a section of fence and I've noticed the concrete sleepers in a local concrete product place, they look like they could be useful where you want something thin but sturdy.) Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 12Mar 06, 2010 2:10 pm They would be great, very easy to work with and will last a lifetime. dollars will be the deciding factor on the use of them Re: Garden Wall - Blocks, Soil then What? 13Mar 08, 2010 10:54 am Thanks for your helpful response. There will be a few existing pine sleepers that I have to remove and a thought I had was to use them as a single layer down the bottom to help support the 'blue board'. BTW, I live in Inner West Sydney. I will look into the concrete sleeper option. Does Bunnings sell them? there website doesn't seem to help much, I might have to ring them. Cheers. Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. Because I'm completely and utterly exhausted. How long are variations taking with other companies at the moment? We… 0 18435 Those span tables can be pushed a little for a low deck if you dont mind a little flex. Last deck I did, I pushed it a little and it was still rock solid - no noticeable… 6 13735 Thank you again Simeon.. I will call my certifier for that. Have a good day 4 5142 |