Volunteer Raised Bed

[mgeile]

First-time post.

I built a raised bed in the backyard near Englewood (southern) Florida. I didn’t get around to planting it yet, but the volunteer plants filled it and overflow the 6x6 box.

However, the grass on the ground is dead about 8” all around the box. Soils is very sandy and the grass looks like it rotted from the roots.

Any ideas how I can figure why the grass died?

 

[oneeye]

Hello friend, It's hard to say for sure without a soil test. Engiewood and other coastal parts of southern Florida have salty soil due to it proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The soil gets wacked two ways, by intrusion and by salt spray. I would send a soil sample to a lab and find out whats going on for sure. A basic soil test is around $30 and well worth the money because the lab will give recommendations on how to improve your soil.

Contact your local University of Florida IFAS extension office, they provide soil testing services and plenty of information. Good luck.

 

[mgeile]

I’ve been reading a bit. I used treated wood to build, and it has been suggested that the wood leaches copper into the surrounding soil.

Several solutions including changing the wood or putting rock down. Not sure if replacing the soil could help after the wood ages.

 

[Meadowlark]

Yes, I was going to mention that as a possibility.

Copper does leach from some treated wood especially CCA and yes it can kill grass.