Content
- Building a cold frame of stone yourself - that's how it works
- Material and tool list
- Building instructions
- Filling a cold stone bed properly - That's how it works
- Tips
A brick cold frame lasts longer than one made of wood
Building a cold frame of stone yourself - that's how it works
Cold frames made of wood and double-skin sheets are a familiar image in the home garden. Longer lasting and more stable is an alternative made of stone. This guide explains how to build a cold frame of decorative plant stones yourself.
Material and tool list
The following materials and tools are required to build a stone cold stone measuring 1.50 x 3.50 m:
The choice of plant stones as a building material offers several advantages. Due to the cavity, these stones have significantly less weight. Moreover, the space is perfect as additional planting area.
Building instructions
Since a cold frame of plant stones is a lightweight compared to a mighty natural stone wall, you can do without a foundation. In the sunny, sheltered location, measure the base area and mark the course with strings. Then straighten the surface with the shovel. Proceed as follows:
There are several options to choose from. Convenient and practical is a tunnel made of round bars and weatherproof greenhouse film. This has the advantage that you can replace the foil during summer time against an insect net to the cold frame as a raised bed.
Filling a cold stone bed properly - That's how it works
One week before planting fill the stone cold frame in layers with horse or cow dung and compost soil. First put the manure about 20 cm high on the leaf layer. This is followed by a mix of garden soil, compost and horn shavings. The decomposition of the organic material generates a growth-promoting heat that allows use of the early bed from February / March to November / December.
Tips
Mobile and much cheaper is a cold frame from pallets. Already 4 Euro pallets are enough to construct the perfect frame out of it. Disused wooden windows with old leather straps acting as a hinge act as a cover.