Fencing for beds made of flat slate

The beds in the summer cottage are a low earthen embankment. This option is simple to arrange, but requires constant maintenance, since the soil is washed out by water and broken during weeding. The use of flat slate for beds has long been adopted by summer residents when creating fences.

Advantages and disadvantages of high slate beds

The positive aspects of straight slate sheets include:

• easy installation;
• saving money on the purchase of material;
• the possibility of ordering a ready-made fence;
• resistance to the external environment;
• ease of transportation and storage;
• the use of herbicides does not affect the lifespan.

The fragility of the material can be ranked as negative features. It does not crumble when touched, but it cannot withstand dynamic impact.

There are controversies around the topic of slate as a harmful product. The main argument is the use of toxic substances in the production. However, the only real danger to human health is the ingress of dust particles into the lungs during the cutting of slate sheets for beds.

Self-creation of beds from flat slate

Before installing slate for the beds, it is necessary to determine their dimensions and take away the construction site. The location of the embankment affects the nature of the structure. When creating a breakout in a vegetable garden, the smooth material acts as a fence. The place is selected taking into account the characteristics of the soil.

If you place the garden in an east-west direction, the plants will receive maximum light.

Dimensions and installation features

When organizing beds from wave slate, there are no size restrictions. However, it is recommended to adhere to the following proportions:

• width - maximum 1.5 meters;
• height up to 75 cm;
• the sheets are immersed 40 cm deep;
• unlimited embankment length.

Work begins with the selection of a site for the site and marking the ground. A site is being prepared for high beds - garbage is removed, tree stumps and roots are uprooted. If the structure is located in an old vegetable garden, you need to think about what crops will be grown. The height of the embankment, the size and location of the beds depends on this.

Always wear a respirator, goggles and gloves when cutting slate sheets. Spill cut lines with water to minimize the risk of dust entering the respiratory tract and mucous membranes.

Attachment procedure

It is more convenient to cut slate strips for beds with a grinder, but you can use a jigsaw or a fine-toothed hacksaw. However, using such equipment is time consuming.

To reduce labor costs, spread a cloth soaked in water under the sheet, this will increase the elasticity of the material.

The technology for making beds from slate sheets depends on the size of the embankment and can be carried out in different ways.

A simple option for creating a structure:

1. Dig a shallow trench 20 cm wide along the markings and set the sheets into the ground without driving them in.
2. Bury the hole and cover with soil on both sides. To strengthen the structure, drive in metal stakes in the corners.
3. A long bed can be reinforced with a frame - fasten the wooden slats to the pegs with slate nails.
4. Fasten the strips with metal corners.
5. Pre-prime or paint the fasteners to prevent corrosion. Make the bolt holes in advance.

After installation, the structure must be opened with polyurethane, acrylic, silicone or automotive paint. The composition depends on the preferences of the owner of the site and the allocated budget.

In the greenhouse, it is recommended to equip drip irrigation, since sprinkling or irrigation with a hose washes away the soil.

Decoration

Slate is a durable but inelastic material. For the construction of non-standard structures, for example, a curved shape, it is not suitable. Otherwise, using sheets, you can implement any ideas.

Options for decorating fences for flat slate beds:

• Clear boundaries. Rectangle and square are popular solutions. To erect a structure does not require sophistication. The peculiarity of the form is the convenience in the care of crops.
• For finishing the flower garden, it is preferable to use a wave material, since it gives the flower bed a unique look.
• Flat slate can be used in the construction of polygonal, triangular and diamond-shaped shapes.
• The material is great for the construction of a multi-tiered bed.
• Despite the low level of elasticity. from wave slate, you can make a club with round corners.

To create flower beds and high beds, slate must be cut across the wave. The smaller the stripes, the easier it is to design the shape. From small fragments, you can create a regular circle or oval.

When there are many beds, they are connected by paved paths or lawn.

Features of creating warm beds from slate sheets

The uniqueness of the technology of warm beds lies in the possibility of early planting of vegetables and herbs. A thin box is mounted according to a similar principle, but the height of the structure should be 75 cm. This is due to the need to fill it with organic matter and other compounds. This substrate is responsible for heating the soil and supplying nutrients to crops.

For the construction of a high bed, it is necessary to assemble and install a box on a prepared site or in a greenhouse. To prevent the germination of weeds, a PVC film or roofing material is lined at the bottom. Additionally, the structure can be protected from small rodents by installing a metal mesh.

The optimal height of the beds in greenhouses is 50 cm with slate in the ground to a depth of 20-30 cm.

Then the "pie" is made:

1. Old waste paper - books, cardboard, paper, magazines, etc.
2. Grass, straw or other fine organic matter.
3. Wood dust or sawdust.
4. Planks, tin products or broken slate.

The load puts pressure on the debris, after 4 days it will shrink. After that, the press is removed and organic matter is poured to the desired level. The finishing layer is humus mixed with garden soil. To speed up the overheating of the "pie", moisten it with water and cover it with polyethylene.

As a rule, warm beds are prepared in the fall so that the seedlings can be planted on time and safely in the spring. To protect the beds from frost and drafts, a greenhouse is pulled over the winter.