Advice Needed for Raised Garden Beds Near Bermuda Grass!
Hi all! Colorado lawn haver/gardner here. I have a lawn adjacent/garden adjacent question here.
I am looking to expand my garden with raised garden beds on the gravel (pictured above). My challenge is that the patch of grass in the background of the photo is Bermuda grass and grows under the concrete barrier and comes up from under the gravel. That makes direct to ground cedar raised beds difficult. I’m also worried about water.
My plan is to remove the rock, dig up the rhizomes, hammer/place a 12 in metal barrier between the lawn and the dirt, and then place either plastic or fabric before adding the gravel back. The gravel is only 1/2-3/4 in thick.
Here are the options I’ve come up with to battle the Bermuda grass. Do you have a recommendation of which one I should do, or is there something else I haven’t thought of?
Cedar Garden Bed Planters on Legs: Small boxes than I’d like, but they’re raised and don’t touch the ground. Would need like twice as many. Unsure if everything I’d like to plant would be plantable in those. Would use landscaper fabric here.
Raised Cedar Garden Box Directly on Ground: Would need to place heavy duty (polypropylene plastic) under garden bed and rock to stunt (but likely not 100% prevent) Bermuda grass growth. Could cause water log and fungal infection without proper drainage.
Elevated Platform Garden Box; Custom build raised bed box with a cedar platform bottom with holes drilled for drainage onto gravel below. Could use fabric or plastic here.
I would love to use Ollas in these beds because they are East-West Full sun (Photographer is facing due west in photo). So no direct watering of beds (and thusly accidentally watering grass).
Note: The previous owner used chemicals to keep the Bermuda grass at bay, but I am committed to keep a low chemical garden (also I have a dog who likes to munch on things).
Thoughts?