..... not sure what you mean when you say "running off to side". An image or two would be helpful. Are the planters resting on the ground and are roots able to enter natural/native soil below the planters? Al

My experience is limited to window boxes, but here is what I have learned: - Plastic liners do help to slow down the rot as well as retain moisture. They will also provide a barrier between the roots and any chemicals in the treated wood (which retard fungle & plant growth in addition to edible concerns). -Angle brackets for supports are definitely recommended if you want it to last longer. Drainage is necessary of course. To reduce the bottom wood exposure to moisture drill a larger hole (1”) than the plastic liner. All wood rots eventually, even teak, so be prepared for periodically mending. I‘ve been toying with the idea of trying fiber cement composit boards (from remnants). - Soil: Potting mix or leaf fro will be much lighter than topsoil. If using top soil add some peat or composted wood chips to lighten and loosen the soil. Mixing in some Soil Moist granules will help a great deal in reducing the frequency you need to water and makes the plants very happy. I’ve heard that baby diapers do the same thing but have never tried it. i Would also add a slow release fertilizer to store bought top soil. The design looks beautiful and ambitious. I would love to have one on my patio. It would get the strawberries away from the slugs, mice, and chipmunks who eat all of mine. Enjoy!

First, while it looks very close to your concrete block wall, I'd hardly call your neighbor's garage an eyesore. It is just the side of a properly maintained garage painted a boring color. And unless the neighbors use the garage for a purpose other than to park their car and store stuff, privacy is not even really an issue either........I doubt they are hanging out in there staring at what you are doing in your backyard!! Giant timber bamboo is overkill for this situation. You don't need anything that tall nor is it well suited to that confined a space. Something that will reach 8-10' will be more than adequate - pittosporum, podocarpus or other medium height prunable broadleaved evergreen hedging plant is a better choice. Even a smaller growing clumping bamboo, as previously mentioned.

Accesability is a big one. Also, if you have line of sight critters in your yard like rabbits, a raised planter can lift the temptation out of their sight. If you put deterrents on the legs, you can keep out other smaller guys like mice and chipmunks. If you have a lot of big roots in your yard from trees and such, the air space can keep them from invading your rich soil. Having the beds raised can help bring attention issues to eye level. And of course, the random bennies of container gardening. A downside can be if you have winter, a raised container can freeze harder than one on the ground and capped.... but it can be easier to insulate a raised container with straw bales or bags of leaves depending on the container. And of course, all the random challenges of container gardening. Also, you have to watch your tall plants/trellish height more- make sure you don't have them growing too tall or you might need a ladder to harvest :) A lot of hard woods including teak are good for boxes. People have been using it for ages in raised beds and boxes. Plastic can be very durable, depending on how well it's made. Some folks have found they like using galvanized steel tubs and tanks- some set on the ground, some on raised platforms. I've built compost cages to use later as raised beds. Approx 3x3x3, made out of metal animal fencing. I fill them up and let them cold compost, top with soil when I want to grow in them. Works great for bush squashes- the height lets me check them very well for any bugs and for grooming the plants.