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5th April 2018, 09:40 AM #1
Need help finding 33% porous gravel base for wicking raised garden bed.
Need help finding 33% porous gravel base for wicking raised garden bed.
Anyone know where I can get 33% porous screening medium / stones / gravel?
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My lady have given the go ahead on a 2.4m x 1.2m x .6m raised garden bed.
I could only source 1.2m spotted gum (to match current planters) so will have to build 2 x 1.2 square garden beds.
Going to have another go at square foot gardening with a wicking base.
My research indicates 33% porous / 15mm(?) stones.
I've rang a couple of suppliers but they don't go by porous %.
Anyone know where I can get 33% porous screening medium / stones / gravel?
my reference
Gravel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6-6F1MRGEA
2:07Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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5th April 2018, 11:29 AM #2Senior Member
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I used scoria in mine seems to work well.
Cheers Bucky
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6th April 2018, 02:51 AM #3SENIOR MEMBER
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- SC, USA
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Correct! Nobody will know what you are talking about if you ask for 33% porous gravel . And even worse - that sort of question alerts the seller to "read something on The Internet but Does not know anything about how to do this"...
It honestly sounds more like you are building a drain field for a septic tank...
Here's the typical recipe:
lay down a layer of woven landscape fabric on the bottom.
Bed of pea gravel to coarse 1" gravel. Washed if you are really really concerned about drainage.
Cover over it with landscape fabric.
Lay down the next layer on top with a couple inches of clean, coarse masonry sand and then go from there with your soil and topsoil to whatever thickness you need....
If you are really worried about drainage within the top layer - mix in 10-20% perlite with the soil and topsoil mixes.
But my bigger question is this...
Is the proposed place really swampy or does it have standing water you need to drain? Are you building a drain field?
Typical soil is generally fairly well drained.. But the natural soil holds moisture which will supply the plants needs when you aren't watering frequently.. Plants are used to sending out roots looking for water.. This is already built into "nature"..
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6th April 2018, 08:56 AM #4
Can anyone identify the gravel he is using here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6-6F1MRGEA
2:07Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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6th April 2018, 09:05 AM #5
His further update says that he gets better results from multiple (directions?)
i.e. Sometimes Using the wicking technique.
And Sometimes draining the wicking water and letting the stones dry out. And watering from above.
My thought is that the standing wicking water was turning stagnate and starting to smell.
And when the water is drained is it used on other plants or maybe even recycled on top of the same planter?
I have a thing about academics advising practical use without getting their hands dirty.
His experience is considerably academic including a lot of traveling and practical experience in the field.
Sharing a lot on youtube with recent findings.Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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6th April 2018, 09:16 AM #6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N31U...outu.be&t=1548
Soil CO2 Respiration and Nutrient Cycle
Makes you wonder how how anyone could grow anything until academia came to the rescue. LOLThanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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6th April 2018, 09:54 AM #7
scoria is lava rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0ow7crxUfA
PERLITE vs VERMICULITE IN GARDEN SOIL | Benefits and Difference Between Perlite and Vermiculite
perlite - white - hold less water better for airation - cactus - when you need well drained soil
vermiculite - brown - sponge - hold more water - less airation - too much water retention can cause root rotThanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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6th April 2018, 02:26 PM #8
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7th April 2018, 02:13 AM #9SENIOR MEMBER
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- Dec 2011
- Location
- SC, USA
- Posts
- 624
Barry,
Those fellows are not building typical raised bed planters for use in their yards.... What they are showing is an aquaponics sort of setup for use in a greenhouse... They run a stream of moving fertilized water through the LECA base. The plants then uptake as much or little water and nutrients as they need... There is a whole complicated aeration, filtration, fertilization, and purification system for the water running through this...
If you just want a good recipe for use in a typical outdoor vegetable planter:
Build your planter box.
Lay down 1 layer of newspaper on top of the existing soil
Put a few handfuls of pea gravel onto the newspaper to keep it from blowing around or shifting during filling.
Now fill the bed with high quality commercial soilless mix potting soil. Here in the USA - I like Fafard or Miracle Grow potting soil.. Use what you can get locally...
A very good home recipe if you don't have access to soilless potting mix is:
4 parts Peat
1 part Vermiculite
1 part Perlite.
You do not want to use all the gravel and sand base if you are not doing an aquaponics setup....
If you do want to pursue an aquaponics setup - look into "LECA" - Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate.. That's what this stuff is. The most common place to find it is with Cement plants.... Although Aquaponics supply places carry it....
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7th April 2018, 10:56 AM #10
The wicking bed technique is not hydroponics
SIP = Sub Irrigated Planter
How to Make a Self Watering Wicking Bed / Sub Irrigated Planter - Stock Tank Build
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL7PgoTlImEThanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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9th April 2018, 01:04 PM #11
Finally able to chat with a wicking bed expert.
Really nice and no BS or nonsense.
Knew his products very well.
Bulleen Art and Garden
Wicking Beds - Bulleen Art & Garden
Wicking bed is
2568 Long
1330 wide
537 high
lining all customers use pvc 3 x 4m - $108
7mm stone screening - .5 (?) $45
geotextile mesh - 2x4 - $15
veggie mix - 1.5 (?) - $105
overflow outlet - $11.95 - 19mm 100mm length
50mm aggie pipe - $21
+ $45 delivery
+ phone support
Surprised but happy to get it sorted from one place that quite of few websites recommended.
Including 20 wicking beds purchased by Melbourne University.
IMG_8755.jpgThanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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9th April 2018, 03:04 PM #12
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9th April 2018, 05:10 PM #13
Thanks Ian.
Always looking out for me.
Much appreciated.
I've allowed the golden pine posts to show thru the ends and middle.
To match the vertical planter behind.
35mm in the middle and 45 at the ends.
Planted the posts and back filled using the flat end of a 60 pound spike.
The expert said I only needed to drain it once a year and confirmed I could use that water on the wicking bed or garden bed.Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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12th April 2018, 04:38 PM #14
Aquaponics proven to work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h3nBlkALlU
Super interestingThanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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14th April 2018, 12:47 PM #15
All the overflow and drainage piping I could get at Bunnings for about half the price.
I found them in the gardening section and NOT the plumbing section.
We had priced other beds for half the size at 3 times the price.
So paying a little extra for convenience wasn't an issue at the time.
I have to write that each time I've spoken to BAAG I've finished speaking to one of their people
I'm relieved and quite happy.Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
May Yesterdays Tears Quench the Thirst for Tomorrows Revenge
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