DIY Raised Garden Bed with Railway Sleepers & Decking Trim | The Carpenter's Daughter

We had this odd bit of lawn between some block paving while also needing to remove top soil for my workshop a couple of years ago.... so this raised sleeper bed was the answer!
It's filmed in two parts (hence why I look thinner in the latter half). The first year, we used it as a raised vegetable patch to grow salad. Then this year while I adding fake decking boards, I'm using it as a sleeper flower bed, so you can see, it's very versatile!
It's also been a handy custom seat due to all the angles I had to mitre for the trim.
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Combi drill geni.us/fN8isKn [Amazon]
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Sawhorses: • Making Strong & Cheap ...
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[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Which side are you on for fitting deck boards? Grooves up or down? 🤔

[@andybarry3435]

I really think it depends on the finish you seek, if you're going for groves down for a plain flat finish it'd be better not adding deck board and leaving the sleeper bare wouldn't it.

[@fadetonoir6152]

Did a bit of research on this when installing some decking a couple of years ago and my conclusion was this - it depends on the type of decking. Some decking has grooves for the underside, to help with air circulation and prevent rot, and some has grooves on the top for grip or aesthetics. Some decking has both. So put it whichever way up it's supposed to go depending on the type of decking. Or just do whatever you want with it - it's your deck!

[@michaelault3180]

Believe it or not, in the United States I had never seen a deck board with grooves until I watched some UK KZbin channels. The first time I saw them was on the D & J projects channel. So being that I still haven't seen a deck board with grooves available to me locally I will be installing them without the grooves altogether.

[@nigelmitchell5726]

Vickie , I remember a Jimmy riddle was a meaning for something else lol ❣️

[@OriginalRaveParty]

Decking with the grooves upwards. It's there to stop slipping in the Autumn and Winter due to rain, wet leaves etc 🙂👍

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

That's always been my reasoning!

[@AnyKeyLady]

I love the idea of upscaling planks to look like the over priced decking. I thought grooves up to avoid slipping in the winter, when there could be algae growth or ice? When we took up our old "crazy paving" council slab patio, we used it to form a bedding area. We are in a heavy clay soil area, so needed drainage, especially against flash floods. We used a high sand to cement mix to mortar the slabs. You don't get a smooth line with the slabs but we done our best with puzzle piecing them together to what we call a "rustic" look! lol We laid down cardboard to prevent weeds and then added woody stuff like branches and sticks. We also re added the shingle that covered the area before. After riddling the clay soil we had, we added the "rough" bits first to create more bulk and fill any gaps in the wood stuff. We then added a green layer. This was a mix of grass clippings, veg scraps and foliage from the hedges, plants etc. IMO, it is best to start these projects in Autumn, when you have more green stuff and in between growing seasons like Sept - Oct. We have separate beds that have different growing seasons. We got our doggy clay soil from another bed that didn't need attention first. We then added another layer of cardboard and added the riddled soil. I sprinkled some perlite and blood, fish and bone but didn't mix. By now we had about a foot of organic garden "trash" that acts as a drainage barrier between the native soil and also later on decomposes to add carbon. It also attracts the red worms like wrigglers and tiger worms into the bedding area. Their "castings" or poo is like black gold of amendments and they also aerate the soil for drainage as their wee isn't so nice for the soil and not the same as worm tea. If you have light sandy or dusty soil i would recommend adding some vermiculite to help with water retention. In London, we do usually get a lot of heavy rain so i only add that to my pots, hanging baskets and containers to save water. We then used cheap mulit purpose compost for the top layer, again amending when it came to planting in the dig holes. Mulching the plants with straw, grass clippings or wood chips, starts the cycle again as soil levels will drop from the plants taking up the nutrients and from the first layer of wood decomposing. When then plant die, chop and drop the green to add nutrients like nitrogen back into the soil for the next stage of growing. It's called the lasagne effect. Charles Dowding is a great example of how you can use this to grow potatoes in the same place, year after year.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks for the tips! And it sounds like I have a lot to brush up on 😂

[@AnyKeyLady]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK I am still learning loads too. I love watching DIY and gardening videos. We renovated our house and garden. I think with the garden though, it is something that you can build upon and improve year after year or every season. Even just like starting a compost bin now, will help at the end of the season to replenish the beds and get ready for autumn and winter planting like garlic.

[@buildcook2070]

You are really talented always impressed. Its really informative much needed in this weather

[@raminybhatti5740]

That hinge idea is genius. Added to the notebook for when I get around to the garden. 👌

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Creates any angle you cut 😆

[@barryhaines1727]

Hi love your Chanel and the bloopers at the end 😂😂👍

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much 😄

[@wisher21uk]

A lot of hard work pays off well done looks fab Vikkie

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much as always 😊

[@micklatham3425]

Jimmy riddle.omg.i havnt heard that said for years.haha😂😂😂I wonder.if our friends across the pond know what you meant 😆

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I've been wondering that too lol

[@micklatham3425]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK you tend to forget that this is streamed around the world. And that a lot of our sayings must leave them puzzled.i wonder what they thought when I said you were a propper bird.haha😂😂😂

[@andybarry3435]

Enjoyed the out takes at the end 😆

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

😆😆

[@Mikidy303]

Great video! I live for my garden. Nothing like growing a cucumber that costs me $3.00 to $5.00 instead of just buying at the grocery for .50 cents ha ha. But I do love it. This year it's hot peppers. I'm growing ghost peppers, carolina reapers, habaneros, aji charipita, and boring old jalapenos. Your raised bed looks really nice too!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I need to get my act together this year 😂 I eat a LOT of salad, so I'm hoping it will save me money in the long run (if even possible). But the tomatoes I grew that year tasted the best!

[@chatterboxpopsi8265]

Nice blog Vikki enjoyed watching thanks for the tips popsi 🇬🇧

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Glad you enjoyed & thanks for watching 😃

[@HouseFairyDIY]

Excellent! It looks really good. I'm new to gardening too but am really enjoying it. Nothing needs to be perfect and it's a great opportunity for experimentation.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Agree! I'm really looking forward to getting into gardening more this year. Also, I've recently fallen in love with Caroline Quentin's gardening Instagram, which I highly recommend (@cqgardens)

[@SJKurd]

awesome

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks 😊

[@thamesdefence6125]

Another great informative video Vickie. 👍🏻

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks :) Glad you enjoyed ☺️

[@anonymously241]

Very nice garden 🏡 😊

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks ☺️

[@MohammedAli-1]

Half with grooves up, the other half with grooves down.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I thought the same about thr grooves too! And thanks so much for the tips- I have a lot to learn about gardening 😅

[@lwoodt1]

There is a book caller " Square Foot Gardening " that you might like to read.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks! I'll look into it :)

[@MrBadgeUK]

JImmy riddle lol !

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

😄 I have a feeling I alienated any viewers that aren't UK based 😂

[@BarriosGroupie]

I think a more economical long term solution would be to remove the excess soil by hiring a small skip for £100, rather than trying to make use of what isn't needed. But still another great DIY video for us to learn from 👍

[@ohasis8331]

Decking grooves are supposed to go face down. They provide an air gap where the deck board sits on the joist and prevents rot. In your case however, they were decorative.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

That's what I've also heard, but do wonder if grooves are best on both sides? I also quite like the idea of slotting in those grip strips, or composite decking to avoid slippyness.

[@ohasis8331]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK I think grooves up would lead to water pooling and for longer periods. In turn, this would lead to mould growth (read slippery) and decay.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Interesting point!

[@HouseFairyDIY]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK Maybe the large groves go face down so allow air to dry out the underneath and the finer groves go on top to provide slip resistance.

[@Morpha-Ahprom]

💖

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

💕

[@paulyh4531]

Have always done decking grooves up.. thought it was better for grip on foot ? Good vid as usual how's Hans doing alright ? Why do your latest videos have an abrupt end , you used to say byee lol 😉

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

That's what I always thought... esp since you can buy anti slip inserts for them! Hans had another heart scan last month and unfortunately has his heart muurmer has slightly gotten worse, so his meds has been increased. Hopefully we're just slowing down his progression, but you'd never had known anything was wrong by watching him. And admittedly, I'm constantly experimenting with the endings to see what the drop off is. Word on the algorithm is that if people leave early, then it's recommended less in search results - but I do miss wrapping things up. I might do it next week now 😆

[@CheckFred]

A 'Jimmy-Riddle' ?? ..... Is that Your Hubby or Your Dad putting ideas in your head ?? 🤣😂🤣 ......

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Hans 😆😆 I really could do with a fence around it as he thinks he can toilet on my flower bed 🙈😅

[@CheckFred]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK 🤣😂🤣😂

[@totherarf]

Listening to GQT while driving today I was surprised to learn they have made it illegal to use sleepers for this! (say What???) Apparently they can't be used anywhere you can come into regular skin contact with them! Something to do with Creosote and sweating in the hot British Summers we get ..... no, seriously?

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

WHAT?!!!! lol

[@totherarf]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK Yup, BBC Gardners Question Time on Sunday! Personally I quite like a gentle whaft of creosote ..... maybe it's an age thing!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Me too! My Dad used to have a big vat at the woodyard full of it, big enough to quickly dip fence panels in, then stack them up to dry.

[@totherarf]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK Bet he used to put old motor oil in there too ;o) ..... a big Nono nowadays!

[@fredsmith6725]

I bet you got sawdust in those boots when routering😵

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

LOL... yes, I did 😄