What do do with old raised beds

[momtomany]

I have old raised beds in the way back of my land. They look to be done with railroad ties or something of asimilar size.

It has been neglected maybe 5 years, and is overgrown. Weeds as tall as me. Trees growing.

It is all fenced in, and asparagus is growing like mad.

It is the place for the.....sun veg. garden, or at least it was(versus the shade garden closer to the house).

Any ideas on the easiest way for me to get rid of all these ties or to rehab it all....... I don't have a tractor (just a riding lawnmower) or any other big equipment.

It is up on a hill, and old fencing is around it.

Just trying to pick some other brains as I think about it.....

Thanks!

[ronbre]

why not just plant it to a permanent food forest crop..as long as you already have perennial asparagus growing there..you could put in a canpy layer of fruit or berry trees, and then hedge it in with some brambles or other berry bushes and put in perennial crops of rhubarb, mult onion, perennial greens, edible flowers like daylillies,e tc..

it would pretty much take care if itself once planted (weeded of course) and heavily mulched..and you would have a good reason to walk back there.

that is similar to the area of garden i have just been reclaiming about 200' behind where our new house was put (after our housefire in 2002)...i have been pulling tons of quackgrass and wild things out of the asparagus and rhubarb and planted nut and fruit trees, 3 kinds of raspberries, blackberries, blue berries, wild plum, and even have some annual vegetables areas..and herbs..it will be a real benefit when it is done

[Harry Chickpea]

Rent a backhoe for a day. It'll be able to pullout and carry the ties, rip out the trees, and do a rough leveling of the land.

[dezingg]

I'd think that the ties may have creosote (sp?) in them that will contaminate the soil at least along the edges of the beds. I do not know how serious a problem that they would pose.

How salvageable are the ties and the "nails" and "screws" that hold them together? If they are in good shape and you have the time, I'd carefully disassemble the whole works and reuse the ties somewhere that doesn't involve food or being real close to where you (or your animals) spend a lot of time.

If you decide not to reuse the ties, I'd still be tempted to salvage whatever screws and spikes that were used to hold things together.

Wear thick gloves, it wouldn't be advisable to get a lot of creosote on your skin.

How big a hurry are you in? Renting a small dozer or a tractor with a loader/backhoe might be the fastest way to clear the spot. If the ties are held together with big nails or big screws, try not to get one in the tractor tires.

[belladulcinea]

I'd do what ronbre suggested and put in more permanent fodd plantings.

[Windy in Kansas]

Easiest way you ask? Fire, but only if you can contain it properly.

Your moniker makes it sound as if you have some helpers. Take a walk to the site once a week or even more often and take along an afternoon or mid morning snack. Those willing to expend at least a small amount of effort gets a reward or a better one since they have burned off calories to replenish. Those that expend less effort get none or less as the case may be.

Once under control it won't take much to keep it that way.

[rhome]

Please follow dezinng's advice and remove the creosote treated RR ties.
Creosote is a very nasty carcinogen and wiil contaminate the soil.
To be honest I would'nt trust that area for food production for a long time after the RR ties are removed. Perhaps the decontaminated area could be used for perenial flower beds.
Good luck