Ground preparations for a beehive

[Amber]

Wi

Hi, just looked here again, I used this stuff which is what you see at the side of the road when they plant trees etc. https://www.amazon.co.uk/GroundMaster-Control-Fabric-Ground-Membrane/dp/B01M22DE24
At roadsides it is generally left exposed as UV proof etc. It is tough and lies on the ground well, they use 'staples' to pin it normally as shown in the link, I just cut the grass laid it on top and put a thin layer of gravel on it to hold it against the grass. Grass died off no problem, I cut out a couple of squares and put the cement on top leaving about 10cm of membrane under the cement slab edges.

Will be applying the garden turf, sounds like a good solution to stabilise the pebbles

Hi, just looked here again, I used this stuff which is what you see at the side of the road when they plant trees etc. https://www.amazon.co.uk/GroundMaster-Control-Fabric-Ground-Membrane/dp/B01M22DE24
At roadsides it is generally left exposed as UV proof etc. It is tough and lies on the ground well, they use 'staples' to pin it normally as shown in the link, I just cut the grass laid it on top and put a thin layer of gravel on it to hold it against the grass. Grass died off no problem, I cut out a couple of squares and put the cement on top leaving about 10cm of membrane under the cement slab edges.

 

[Curly green finger's]

O

Thanks for the photo, your stands look good.

Less chance of a trip hazard with just 1 slab, with a thin layer of gravel do you have any problems with ground membrane?

On the thought of using paving for hive stands if you are using mortar you could hornch the motar around the paving this would stop the trip hazard.
If you didn't want to see the mortar hornch you could push gravel into it.

 

[Erichalfbee]

hornch the motar

I had to look that up ( out of interest)
Thank heavens for Google predictive search

 

[Amber]

Hi, just looked here again, I used this stuff which is what you see at the side of the road when they plant trees etc. https://www.amazon.co.uk/GroundMaster-Control-Fabric-Ground-Membrane/dp/B01M22DE24
At roadsides it is generally left exposed as UV proof etc. It is tough and lies on the ground well, they use 'staples' to pin it normally as shown in the link, I just cut the grass laid it on top and put a thin layer of gravel on it to hold it against the grass. Grass died off no problem, I cut out a couple of squares and put the cement on top leaving about 10cm of membrane under the cement slab edges.

O

On the thought of using paving for hive stands if you are using mortar you could hornch the motar around the paving this would stop the trip hazard.
If you didn't want to see the mortar hornch you could push gravel into it.

O

On the thought of using paving for hive stands if you are using mortar you could hornch the motar around the paving this would stop the trip hazard.
If you didn't want to see the mortar hornch you could push gravel into it.

Assume that is putting a slope of mortar around the paving stone that would certainly help, never heard of hornch , the gravel will move i suspect.

 

[Amber]

I had to look that up ( out of interest)
Thank heavens for Google predictive search

Predictive text sometimes!

 

[user 819]

HM&T is a common joinery term for proper joiners like me.

 

[Amber]

HM&T is a common joinery term for proper joiners like me.

HM&T is a common joinery term for proper joiners like me.

Pleased to meet you proper HM& T

 

[Curly green finger's]

Assume that is putting a slope of mortar around the paving stone that would certainly help, never heard of hornch , the gravel will move i suspect.

Spelling is one of my fortays as you can tell.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Assume that is putting a slope of mortar around the paving stone that would certainly help, never heard of hornch , the gravel will move i suspect.

Dig out, shutter it and pour 4" of 4:2:1 concrete - it'll be reet!

 

[Amber]

Spelling is one of my fortays as you can tell.

Spelling is one of my fortays as you can tell.

Predictive that is

Dig out, shutter it and pour 4" of 4:2:1 concrete - it'll be reet!

Thanks! Except the price for materials is not reet! but seems I will have to dig into my pockets further

 

[BoStor]

Beach sand works well to stop weeds and once you have the beach re-created you can get the deckchairs out!

 

[Amber]

deck chair not for the bees, will be cracking the honey money whip to pay back for the foundation

 

[enrico]

Go to an agricultural suppliers. They sell 3 X 2 meter rubber mats that are intended for muddy gateways. They are brilliant. I will try and find one and post it here. I use five later across weed suppressant and covered in mulch.

 

[Amari]

Hi, just looked here again, I used this stuff which is what you see at the side of the road when they plant trees etc. https://www.amazon.co.uk/GroundMaster-Control-Fabric-Ground-Membrane/dp/B01M22DE24
At roadsides it is generally left exposed as UV proof etc. It is tough and lies on the ground well, they use 'staples' to pin it normally as shown in the link, I just cut the grass laid it on top and put a thin layer of gravel on it to hold it against the grass. Grass died off no problem, I cut out a couple of squares and put the cement on top leaving about 10cm of membrane under the cement slab edges.

I use that sort of membrane to cover fallow land on my allotment. It's OK but develops holes after year or too. What is far better for the OP's purpose IMHO is non-woven geotextile eg Terram. It's what they use to stabilise embankments when road building. I've used it under gravel paths for decades and for 20 years covering my present apiary, without gravel, approx 15x10m. After a few years there is a weak growth of grass, easily strimmed off.
Available in different sizes:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowtrak-Ge...ram+weed+membrane&qid=1612444327&sr=8-21&th=1

 

[enrico]

This type of thing but you can get them much cheaper!
https://www.slip-not.co.uk/size/Pre...lJK-2NcbAKqNYQzQ0VtCc35rScWnhOOoaAolgEALw_wcB

 

[Amber]

I use that sort of membrane to cover fallow land on my allotment. It's OK but develops holes after year or too. What is far better for the OP's purpose IMHO is non-woven geotextile eg Terram. It's what they use to stabilise embankments when road building. I've used it under gravel paths for decades and for 20 years covering my present apiary, without gravel, approx 15x10m. After a few years there is a weak growth of grass, easily strimmed off.
Available in different sizes:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowtrak-Ge...ram+weed+membrane&qid=1612444327&sr=8-21&th=1

Just ordered some thanks Amber

 

[Amber]

Than

This type of thing but you can get them much cheaper!
https://www.slip-not.co.uk/size/Pre...lJK-2NcbAKqNYQzQ0VtCc35rScWnhOOoaAolgEALw_wcB

Thanks for the link Enrico , not cheap but worth buying if they last