GB2429622A

GB2429622A - A raised flowerbed system comprising modular interlocking units

Info

Publication number: GB2429622A
Application number: GB0609156A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matt Trangmar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-05
Filing date: 2006-05-09
Publication date: 2007-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-09
Also published as: GB0609156D0; GB0518085D0; GB2429622B

Abstract

A raised flowerbed system comprises different shaped parts which fit together to form interlocking modular units. The system comprises solid outer panels 1, inner panels 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and supporting joiners 4a, 4b. The panels have a ledge 11 on both sides of the panels 1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b just below their topmost edge. There may also be another ledge 11 halfway down the outside of the outer panel 1. The supporting joiners 4a, 4b may have up to four dovetail grooves running along their length. The inner and outer panels, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b may have dovetail shaped edges to fit within the grooves of the supporting joiners 4a, 4b. Removable pots may be used with the system, as well as shelves. The system may incorporates a water feature

Description

1 2429622 Raised Flowerbed System A raised flowerbed can add a stunning

feature to almost any garden and there are certirn choices in building or creating such a structure.

These includ'ermanent fixtures made of bricks and mortar or a plastic alternative, which could be either a single, large, shallow trough or a set of rigid and thick plastic sides which are self- assembled and then filled with soil ready for planting.

The following lists the disadvantages or limitations of these options.

For bricks and mortar: 1. Expensive (if hiring a professional) or time-consuming and hard 2. More difficult to keep clean. Porous materials are prone to trapping moisture and water leading to a build up of algae and fungal growth. Over time this requires some forceful scrubbing to remove.

Plastic raised beds, whether self-assembled or single troughs suffer less from the above. However they still have their limitations: 3. Usually restricted to a single bed of a fixed dimension giving no variation in design other than changing its orientation.

4. Have to be strong enough to withstand soil and water pressure without bulging', therefore are likely to be composed of thick or reinforced plastic sides and generally tend to be expensive for the amount of growing space they actually provide.

Another method is the use of adjustable and stackable brackets that secure lengths of timber horizontally on top of each other to form the side of the raised bed. Many designs incorporating different shaped beds at different levels are achievable and plastic timbers may also be available, which are specifically designed to fit these brackets.

Despite giving the user a variety of interesting arrangements, there are yet further issues: 5. The plastic timbers are likely to be a set length and quite thick, using a lot of material and once again, will be expensive.

6. Homemade timbers need a specific cross-sectional dimension to fit the brackets and yet still have to be cut to the desired length.

7. As the side of a raised bed is composed of separate, horizontally aligned timbers, taller and wider structures are prone to outwards bulging' as soil and water pressures increase.

8. To create multiple raised beds with smaller dimensions, (something that small plots may demand) a lot more cutting and measuring is necessary to produce the greater number of individual timbers that will ultimately be required.

Some types of stackable planter can give a multi-tier display, but as they're likely to be a fixed size and shape, little flexibility is offered for their arrangement in creating a custom design and in so doing, some of these planters may only be used as a support to those above. This doesn't provide the optimum use of such planters, wasting the material that they're made from.

The present invention aims to overcome or at least instigate all of the above disadvantages, by providing another alternative with additional features and extending the possibilities.

It is a flat-packed self-assembled system comprising a number of different shaped plastic parts that slide and fit together to quickly and easily create an assembly of interlocked raised flowerbeds. It can be made according to one of many different designs using some or all of these parts and can be expanded at any time by acquiring additional parts and adding these on.

Preferably the parts are vacuum or injection moulded.

The result is a cost effective and adaptable raised flowerbed system with one or more beds of different dimensions and at varying heights and depths. When filled with soil and/or compost and planted, it gives a multi-tier floral display designed in accordance with the user's personal taste and budget, using as little material as possible yet still producing a stable and rigid structure.

Preferably, the parts are made from recycled plastic.

Preferably, the outer (visible) parts are made from polyethylene resin or polyurethane foam with a natural finish, e.g. stone, terracotta, wood or brick to name but a few possible effects.

Instead of filling the entire assembly with soil, removable, square plastic planters or pots can be inserted into its different sections such that the tops of these are flush with the top of each raised bed.

These are then filled with the soil and used for planting and are made with this system in mind (specific dimensions) . Alternatively, the pots could be planted first and then placed into the raised bed sections.

Preferably, the pots are made from a moulded resin or other suitable material for planting that won't be split or cracked from the general use of a trowel or similar planting tool.

If the plants are grown in the pots, far less soil or compost will be needed. Additionally, the invention can be conveniently sited in other locations and not just among the flowerbeds, e.g. this raised flowerbed system could be assembled and used on patios, decking, terraces and even indoors.

As well as or instead of using the pots, specially designed shelves can be individually added to the different sections of the raised flowerbed system to stand existing potted plants or garden ornaments and include them as part of the overall display.

Preferably, the shelves are grid-like, using the least amount of material necessary yet are still strong enough to support the weight of pots and plants without distorting.

For the average gardener then, this is a raised flowerbed system that: 1. Is cost effective, easy to assemble/disassemble and easy to keep clean.

2. Will last for many years, without chipping or cracking due to adverse weather conditions and if using the appropriate material this system will resist colour fading from tJV exposure.

3. Can be assembled on a variety of different locations, e.g. patio, decking, indoors/outdoors or integrated within existing flowerbeds, using optional base joints as necessary to form a foundation. (These will be described later) 4. Can be assembled to one of many designs, using the same set of parts and create unique interlocked sections of different dimensions and at different levels, therefore presenting some choice before finishing it off with the plants.

5. Can be extended just by acquiring extra parts and adding them on to build up the existing design.

6. Can use removable square pots for planting or an insertable template to accommodate other shapes of pot, e.g. round, octagonal; thereby using less soil and allowing plants to be rotated giving a more balanced display (depending on how each set of plants develop, e.g. too much or not enough sun) 7. Helps the hardening-off process for young seedlings prior to being left permanently outdoors or allows for the complete removal of plants during the winter months and keeping them safe from frost ready for the following growing season.

8. Allows for the rotation of seasonal bulbs - i.e. spring bulbs in one set of pots can be rotated with summer bulbs in a different set of pots so that whilst the summer bulbs are actively growing in the invention, the pots containing the spring bulbs can be stacked and stored away for use later.

9. Can support and display existing potted plants and garden ornaments.

lO.Can be relocated or redesigned and made to suit any budget or circumstances.

ll.Suitably designed "add-ons" can produce raised and/or multi- tiered water features with water cascading between upper and lower sections.

12.Lighting can be included to illuminate desired parts of the construction from a variety of perspectives.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2.

These are the principle parts that can be used to assemble a basic raised flowerbed system. The part listings with numbers are described below: Solid outer panel l() showing an inner facing aspect 1(i) and an outer facing aspect 1(u) Inner panels 2(a) and 2(b) (two vertical sizes) which may be hollow as in this drawing.

Inner panels 3(a) and 3(b) (two vertical sizes) composing of a lattice structure. These are an alternative design to the hollow panels 2(a) /2(b) Supporting joiners 4(a) and 4(b) (two vertical sizes) with a common plan view.

Removable square pots 5.

Removable shelf 6.

Corner base joint 7.

Short base joint 8.

Long base joint 9.

Dovetail shaped edge 10 - applies to parts 1, 2(a)/2(b) and 3(a) /3(b) Supporting ledge 11 - applies to parts 1, 2(a) and 3(a).

Alternative removable pot design 12 for easier insertion or removal.

Pot handles 13.

Threaded plughole with screw cap 14.

Figure 3.

The base joints 7, 8 and 9, which have been laid out for fitting together as a foundation to the rest of the assembly.

Figures 4 and 5.

One design of raised flowerbed being assembled on the said foundation (figure 3) using solid outer panels 1, the taller of the inner panels 2(a) and the taller of the supporting joiners 4 (a).

Figure 6.

The complete raised flowerbed is finished and ready for planting.

Figures 7 and 8.

Optional and removable square pots 5 are inserted for planting and filled with soil or compost.

Figure 9.

The finished raised flowerbed complete with plants.

Figure 10.

A small modification to the above design, by interchanging some of the existing parts and introducing two of the removable shelves 6.

Figure 11.

A larger raised flowerbed based on the same parts as above plus the shorter inner panels 2(b) and the shorter supporting joiners 4 (b).

Figures 12.

This shows a taller section of raised bed than in the preceding drawings and how one of the removable square pots 5 would be suspended when used for planting.

Figure 13.

One of the inner panels 2(a) seen from a lower perspective and how its ledge 11 is designed to support the weight of one of the removable square pots 5 or shelves 6.

Figure 14.

Another raised flowerbed showing how a different shaped, moulded outer panel 1 could be used. This design uses removable square pots 5 and shelves 6 and just the corner base joints 7 to act as feet, which may help to steady the assembly where a complete foundation of base parts 7, 8 and 9 isn't required.

Figure 15.

Shows the use of the water feature tray 15 with the bell fountain 16 and water pump and piping 17.

Figure 16.

Demonstrates an alternative removable shelf design 18 that can be fitted with a typical outdoor light 19 to bring some illumination to the overall assembly.

The first task in assembling the raised flowerbed system might be to fit together a foundation using any of the base joints 7, 8 and 9 (figure 3) . This step is optional depending on where the assembly is to be situated and might not be required if the site is firm and level (e.g. a patio) . However, when assembled to the same basic shape of the finished design, the foundation will help in placing the remaining parts. If sited on surfaces that aren't entirely solid, e.g. a layer of aggregate, then these base joints may be essential to give a compact and uniform surface that will prevent different parts of the finished assembly from sinking' leaving sections of it uneven.

Vertical supporting joiners 4(a) are inserted into the foundation created by the base joints where a peg at the bottom of each joiner fits into a hole in either one of the corner base joints 7 or the middle of one of the long base joints 9. Then the solid outer panels 1 and inner panels 2(a) are added to form the basic raised bed construction (figures 4 and 5) . The panels have a dovetail shaped edge at either end that fits into one of four dovetail grooves around each of the supporting joiners. Each panel's edge therefore needs only to be vertically lined up with one of the supporting joiner's grooves and inserted downwards until the panel is fully in position.

Each vertical joiner 4(a)14(b) could either be extruded as a single item or moulded as two identical halves that the user then snaps together before using them to assemble the invention as described above (see one of the long supporting joiners 4 (a) in figure 1) Where the remainder of this specification makes reference to using the hollow version of the inner panels 2(a)/2(b), the lattice inner panels 3(a)/3(b) could equally be used to give better support. The hollow panels 2(a)/2(b) are used throughout this description and therefore the drawings, so that other parts can be seen more clearly.

Using this simple dovetail fitting between the supporting joiners 4(a) and the panels 1 or 2 (a), a custom design of interlocked raised flowerbeds is created as in figure 6. The solid outer panels 1 provide the outer sides of the construction to contain soil or compost when filled. The inner panels 2(a) provide stability against the pressure of soil and water by holding or pulling the outer panels in towards each other. The inner panels also provide support to subsequent upper levels as sections of the raised bed system are extended to varying heights, given also that the supporting joiners are stackable on top of one another where a peg at the bottom of the upper joiner fits into a hole at the top of the lower joiner.

Removable square pots 5 can be added and used for planting instead of filling the complete assembly with soil (figure 7) . Alternatively, the pots can be filled and planted first before they're inserted (figure 8) . Each of the upper four edges on a pot 5, are formed into a lip so that it sits on the ledges 11 found on either side of the solid outer panels 1 or the inner panels 2 (a) . Thus the pot is held, such that its top is approximately level with the top of either panel irrespective of how tall a particular section of a raised flowerbed may be (see figure 12) A modified version of the removable pot 5 is the one as indicated by number 12 (figure 2), which has pieces cut from two opposite sides and protrusions directly beneath these 13, giving hand-held access and a means to lift the pot in and out of a raised flowerbed arrangement.

This pot also has one or two threaded plugholes and screw caps 14 and these replace the drainage holes found in the bottom of the other pot design, 5. Their purpose is to seal the pot for indoor use or to allow free drainage for outdoor use and/or connect to piping when using the water feature tray 15 (see figure 15) The net effect is to produce a multi-tier, fully filled and planted raised flowerbed or flowerbeds or such construction that appears to be completely filled when using the removable square pots 5 (figure 9) By inter-changing some of the parts and introducing the removable shelves 6, a slight modification on the design is achieved, which gives the added feature of including existing potted plants or ornaments in the display (figure 10) . As with the removable square pots 5, the shelves are designed to sit on the ledges 11 offered by the panels 1 or 2(a) Although the solid outer panels 1 could be moulded from a number of different shapes, the particular design described thus far has a supporting ledge 11 at the top of its inner facing side and two more at the top and middle of its outer facing side (refer to figure 1) The ledges at the front are just as important depending on what design of raised bed the user is going for. Figure 10 has already shown that where the outer facing sides of two solid panels are turned in towards each other, the ledges on the outer sides then provide support for either the removable square pots 5 or the shelves 6.

Figure 11 shows two drawings of a larger design of raised flowerbed to demonstrate the use of some other parts and in particular, the shorter of the supporting joiners 4(b), which are also stackable on top of one another and with the taller supporting joiners 4 (a) . This part is approximately half the height of its taller counterpart 4(a) and so when used appropriately, can support an upper section of the raised flowerbed system half a panel above the preceding level rather than at a full panel's height above and this adds yet more choice with the final design. (This construction additionally requires using the shorter inner panels 2 (b), which can be seen in figure 11) . When assembled in this way, either ledge 11 on the outer facing side of the solid outer panel 1 gets used to support removable square pots 5 or shelves 6.

Figure 12 demonstrates that irrespective of how high each section of the raised flowerbed system may be, the removable square pots 5 or shelves 6 (if used) are supported at the very top, with the weight born primarily on the stacked supporting joiners 4 (a) /4 (b) . Because the joiners are held and pulled together by the panels 1 or 2(a)/2(b) they aren't splayed outwards under any such weight. (Just the inner panels 2(a)/2(b) are used in this example). It's equally important to note that the stability of such multi-tiered structures as this relies on the removable square pots or shelves 6 having a near perfect fit with their surrounding panels as this will stop the panels being distorted from the ninety degrees orientation they have

B

with an adjacent panel. This necessity is repeated in figure 12 by including additional removable shelves 6 at frequent intervals throughout the stack.

Figure 13 is a view from below one of the inner panels 2(a), showing how the ledge 11 can be designed to withstand the sort of weight imposed upon it by a full pot 5 or loaded shelf 6.

Figure 14 shows that other shapes of solid outer panel 1 can be created to give the raised flowerbed design a quite different appearance and one that may be more favourable to some users. This example uses a brick effect with its brick-like protrusions so shaped and arranged that they too can support the removable square pots 5 or shelves 6 from their outer facing side as well as their inner side.

Water features can be included with any raised flowerbed. The simplest design is to have one of the alternative square pots 12 filled with water and used as the basis of a water plant feature, given that its plughole would then be firmly sealed by the screw cap 14. A slightly advanced option could then be to place one of the removable grid-like shelves 6 on top of the pot, layer it with decorative pebbles and finally position a small fountain, with its water recycling motor in the pot and the spout pushed up through the shelf and pebbles so that water gently trickles over the decorative pebbles back into the pot.

In figure 15 however, the water pump and piping 17 have been attached to the plughole 14 on the side of the pot [12] (the screw cap has been removed) and this draws the water up to the bell fountain [161 which freely spills water through decorative pebbles to be collected by the water feature tray 15. This tray and therefore its overflowing lip is sited at a tier above the pot such that the water is returned and the cycle continues. In order to fit the overflow lip of the water feature tray as shown in figure 15, one of the outer solid panels 1, would need to be cut.

An alternative embodiment of the water feature tray 15 is to have an overflow lip on any number of its four sides by way of a removable and water-tight section on each of the said sides wherein a detachable overflow lip is then fitted. If said tray had an overflow lip on each of its four sides this could feed water simultaneously into four of the pots 12, provided they were directly below; said pots each having two of the threaded plugholes 14 so that the pots can be daisy- chained' together with appropriate piping and therefore only a single water pump and piping 17 would be required to return the water from all four pots back to the water feature tray, via the bell fountain 16 or similar attachment.

Any pot 12 collecting water, whether used on its own or with a water feature tray 15 may benefit in design by having shallower dimensions that would therefore hold less water and put less strain on the part of the raised flowerbed in which it's sited.

Figure 16 shows how lighting can be included. The alternative shelf design 18 has a solid middle section that can be cut or screwed into and then a typical out door light 19 can be fitted that will illuminate anything above or below it, depending on how the shelf is positioned and used within the raised flowerbed construction.

To create an alternative embodiment of the invention, the parts as illustrated in figure 17 can be used to create similar constructions as described above and are listed as follows: Figure 17.

Extruded outer panel 20.

Square supporting joiners 21(a) and 21(b) (two vertical sizes) with a common plan view.

Plain solid panels 22(a) and 22(b) (two vertical sizes) without ledges.

Clip-over supporting ledges 23.

Top pieces 24 to finish off the square supporting joiners 21(a) /21(b) Figure 18.

This shows the construction of the raised flowerbed kit using the parts as described in figure 17.

The construction of a raised flowerbed is done in much the same way as described for figures 4 to 8 inclusive and should be self explanatory just by studying figure 18. The key differences is that the plain solid panels 22(a) are used for all sides of the construction whether they're inner or outer panels and it's therefore the extruded outer panels 20 that then create the outer finish to the construction when they're clipped onto one of the plain panels. The other main difference is that only the extruded outer panels 20 have built in supporting ledges whereas the others 22(a) rely on the clip-over supporting ledges 23 in order to hold the removable square pots 5 or 12 or the removable shelves 6 or 18.

From the above description, it therefore follows that if the raised flowerbed system has used the removable square pots 5 or 12 for planting, then taking these out complete with plants, allows the entire assembly to be dismantled and packed away. Then it can be relocated and rebuilt using the same design as before or starting with a completely new idea and the pots and plants are inserted back in re- establishing the complete construction just as it was.

Such a feature may not serve a great deal of purpose for the average garden, unless the owners are moving or re-landscaping. However, this system could equally be regarded as an alternative to some designs of stackable planter that are currently available. If used with this principle in mind the occasional relocation of such an item may prove to be advantageous.

But the ability to collapse, redesign and rebuild such a raised flowerbed system, which can be conveniently moved and reused again, might appeal to one or more of the following industrial uses: 1. Conferences.

2. Exhibitions.

3. Presentations.

4. Offices 5. Restaurants Within the scope of the invention, it is envisaged that some or all of the components may be made of wood and/or compressed cellulose materials.

Claims

Claims 1. A raised flowerbed system composed of different shaped parts,

which fit together to form one of many designs of raised flowerbed or multiple interlocked beds of different dimensions and at different or identical levels, using all or some of the same parts.
2. A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 1 that is expandable in size and design using more of the same parts or by adding some different shaped parts.
3. A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 using solid vertical outer panels (1) and vertical inner panels (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) to form the outer and inner sides respectively, of each separate or interlocked flowerbed; where said panels (1, 2a, 3a) have a small ledge (11) just below their topmost edge.
4. A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 3 using vertical supporting joiners (4a, 4b) that join together said solid outer panels (1) and said inner panels (2a, 2b, 3a or 3b)
5. A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 4 wherein each of the vertical supporting joiners (3a, 3b) has up to four vertical dovetail grooves equally spaced about their circumference, that accommodate said solid outer panels (1) and said inner panels (2a, 2b, 3a or 3b), given that these panels have a dovetail shape edge (10) at either end, to slide vertically downwards and into the grooves when the raised flowerbed system is constructed.
6. A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the vertical supporting joiners (4a, 4b) are vertically stackable on top of each other, with a central peg at the bottom of the upper supporting joiner fitting into a central hole at the top of the lower supporting joiner.
7. A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 4 wherein the vertical supporting joiners (4a, 4b) are formed as a single item or moulded as two identical halves from plastic material.
8. A raised flowerbed system according to Claims 1 to 6, that supports removable pots (5), where the top of each pot is at or just below the top of each section of the raised bed, said pots having a lip formed at their topmost edges.
9. A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 8, in which the removable pots (5) are held in place by either said solid outer panels (1) or said inner panels (2a, 3a) by a ledge (11) provided on each of said panels (1, 2a or 3a)
10.A raised flowerbed system according to Claims 1 to 6, that supports removable shelves (6), where the top of each shelf is at or just below the top of each section of the raised bed.
ll.A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 10, in which the removable shelves (6) are held in place by either said solid outer panels (1) or said inner panels (2a or 3a) by a ledge (11) of said panels.
12.A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 9 or Claim 11 where the solid outer panels (1) each have two supporting ledges 11 along their outer facing aspect such that they may support removable pots 5 or shelves 6 at levels being either approximately at the top of said outer panel or at a point which is approximately half way up the panel.
13.A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 where the removable shelves (6) are either solid throughout and/or made of a gridlike or lattice structure, said solid sections of the shelf being adaptable by way of cutting or drilling to fit one or more lights/lighting units.
14.A raised flowerbed system substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which is manufactured as a flat packed, self-assembly system.
15.A raised flowerbed system according to any one of Claims 8, 9 or 12 in which an alternative embodiment of the removable pots (12) have sections cut at the top of opposing sides and inward facing protrusions just below each of these to form handles (13) and a means of lifting said pots in and out of the section of raised flowerbed at which they're sited.
16.A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 15 where the pots (5 or 12) and shelves (6 or 18) have suitable dimensions such that they fit near perfectly within their surrounding panels (1, 2a or 3a) so that any distortion of the panels' ninety degree aspect with any adjacent panel is minimised or eliminated altogether.
17.A flowerbed system substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.

17.A raised flowerbed system incorporating an optional water feature tray (15) with dimensions similar to the pots (5 or 12), such that said water feature tray is sited within outer panels (1) and/or inner panels (2a, 3a) , being a near perfect fit within these panels and being supported by said panels' ledges (11); said water feature tray having an overflow lip on one or more of its sides and an overall depth sufficient to contain one or more layers of a suitable decorative aggregate.

18.A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 17 wherein said water feature tray (15) has removable but water-tight sections on each of its four sides where the aforementioned overflow lips would otherwise have been; said overflow lips now being attachable as separate pieces in place of any of the said removable sections.

19.A raised flowerbed system according to any one of Claims 15 to 18 that supports removable pots (12); said pots being equipped with one or more threaded plugholes each with a removable screw cap (14); said plughole or plugholes leaving either a means of drainage for out door use or a means to affix piping via the threaded plughole and therefore the ability to link said pots together and/or return water with a water pump (17), back to incorporated water features such as the optional bell fountain (16) when used in conjunction with the optional water feature tray (15) 20.A raised flowerbed system according to either one of Claims 1 or 2 comprising an extruded outer panel (20) that clips over a generic solid flat panel (22a, 22b) to give an outer facing panel assembly not unlike the single solid outer panel (1), said extruded panel (20) having one supporting ledge on its inner facing side and two supporting ledges on its outer facing side, that support removable pots (5 or 12) or removable shelves (6 or 18) 21.A raised flowerbed system according to Claim 20 using clip-over supporting ledges (23) to be used on solid panels (22a) said clip-over ledges supporting removable pots (5 or 12) or removable shelves (6 or 18) 22.A raised flowerbed system according to any preceding claim where some or all of the aforementioned parts are made by vacuum, injection or extrusion moulding.

23.A raised flowerbed system according to any preceding claim where some or all of the aforementioned parts are made of recycled plastic.

24.A raised flowerbed system according to any preceding claim where some or all of the aforementioned parts are made of wood.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 11+ Claims 1. A flowerbed system composed of one or more flowerbed units each comprising different shaped components which flower bed units fit together to form a flowerbed system of different dimensions and at different or identical levels, characterised in that each flowerbed unit comprises solid vertical outer panels (1) and vertical inner panels (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) to form the outer and inner sides respectively, of each separate or interlocked flowerbed unit wherein said panels (1, 2a, 3a) each comprise a small ledge (11) just below a topmost edge portion thereof.

2. A flowerbed system according to Claim 1, characterised in that the flowerbed units are conjoined with juxtaposed flowerbed units of the system using vertical supporting joiners (4a, 4b) that join together said solid outer panels (1) and said inner panels (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) of said flowerbed units.

3. A flowerbed system according to Claim 2, characterised in that each of the vertical supporting joiners (3a, 3b) has up to four vertical dovetail grooves equally spaced about its circumference, that, in use, accommodate said solid outer panels (1) and said inner panels (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) 4. A flowerbed system according to Claim 3, characterised in that the panels (1) (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) each comprise a dovetail shape edge (10) at either end to be received into the grooves when a flowerbed system is constructed.

5. A flowerbed system according to Claim 4, characterised in that the vertical support joiners (4a, 4b) are vertically stackable on top of each other, with a central peg at the bottom of the upper supporting joiner fitting into a central hole at the top of the lower supporting joiner.

6. A flowerbed system according to either one of Claims 4 or 5, characterised in that vertical supporting joiners (4a, 4b) are formed as a single item or moulded as two identical halves.

7. A flowerbed system according to Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that, in use, each flowerbed unit is adapted to support removable pots (5) 8. A flowerbed system according to Claim 7, characterised in that, when in use, removable pots (5) are supported by the ledges (11) of either said solid outer panels (1) or said inner panels (2a, 3a) 9. A flowerbed system according to Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that each flowerbed unit comprises removable shelves (6) l0.A flowerbed system according to Claim 9, characterised in that, when in use, the removable shelves (6) are supported by the ledges (11) of either said solid outer panels or said inner panels (2a or 3a) 11.A flowerbed system according to either one of Claims 9 or Claim 10, characterised in that the solid outer panels (1) each have two supporting ledges (11) along an outer facing aspect thereof such that, in use, they may support removable pots (5) or shelves (6) at levels being either approximately at the top or each outer panel (1), or at a point which is approximately half way up the panel (1) 12.A flowerbed system according to either one of Claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the removable shelves (6) of each flowerbed unit are either solid throughout and/or made of a grid-like or lattice structure.

13.A flowerbed system according to Claim 12, characterised in that the shelves (6) include support for one or more lighting units.

14.A flowerbed system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, 9 and 10, characterised in that at least one of the flowerbed units comprises a water feature tray (15) and being supported by said ledges (11) 15.A flowerbed system substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.

16.A flowerbed system substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.