Wicking beds: project

With the upcoming El Nino conditions predicted and the enormity of clearing the tiger grass to make way for my planned vegetable garden (presented PDC design), I decided to invest in wicking beds for my annuals instead. 

The design I used was Lee's, featured in Samford Edible Garden Trail. The excellent half-IBCs were sourced from a guy on Facbook Marketplace named Paul Longley in Logan, South of Brisbane. I found it difficult to find the right irrigation elbows and such from Bunnings, but found Wicked Wicking Beds who sell the overflow kits and geotextile fabric.

After Rob mowed the existing lawn as low as possible, I laid a few layers of cardboard and positioned the IBCs, levelling with a few pavers.

IBC wicking bed reservoir

 

Geotextile fabric in place

The soil is 50:50 mushroom compost and premium potting mix bought in bulk from Nuway, and the mulch is sugar cane.

After a couple of weeks, the soil will be rested enough to begin planting!