The perks of being a gardener include the ‘luxury’ of having steady access to vegetables, flowers, or spices. You also get to determine the quality of the food you eat. But your backyard space may pose some difficulty in achieving this. Either the soil is of poor quality or is easily prone to weeds. Regardless, building a raised bed in your garden is a great way to grow a variety of plants with more control over soil quality and drainage. Plus, it’s easier on your back.
*Collaborative Post
But do you need professional help to create your own raised bed garden? Not at all. You can create your own raised garden beds with bricks, scrap wood, or railroad ties, like these railway sleepers in Nottingham. The steps to building a raised garden bed are one of the easiest DIY activities you can do over the weekend.
Step-By-Step Guide on Building Your Raised Garden Bed
Before building a raised bed for your garden, you need to understand what it is and the benefits it affords. A raised bed is a framed and freestanding structure built above ground level for plant growth.
Raised garden beds help:
- improve growing conditions
- keep weeds at bay
- prevent erosion and can serve as a nursery for young plants
Generally, they make gardening easier with less kneeling, bending, and tilling/digging.
So here’s how you can build your raised garden bed:
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Choose the Location
Select a sunny spot for your raised bed. Most vegetables and many flowers need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Easy access to water is also a big plus, but avoid remote corners of the garden that are windy.
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Decide on the Size
Decide on the dimensions of your raised bed. A common size is 1.2 metres (c.a. 4 feet) wide, so it’s easy to reach across without stepping on the bed and compacting the soil. The length can stretch between 1.2 m and 3.5 m (c.a. 4 and 12 feet). The height can vary as well, but 18-20 cm (c.a. 6 – 7 inches) is standard for most plants.
However, a 1.2 x 3.6 (c.a 4 ft x 8 ft) rectangle is a classic choice for a raised garden bed. If your raised garden bed is built against a wall, you may want to shorten the width to about 90 cm (c.a. 3 feet).
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Gather Materials
Wood is a popular material, and bricks and stones are also good options. If you’re going to use wood, avoid the pressure-treated kind, as the chemicals can leach into the soil.
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Build the Frame
There are two main approaches on how to make garden beds. The framed method involves the construction of a box-like structure. The no-dig method requires only layering the chosen area with cardboard and piling compost on it.
For the framed method:
- Measure and cut your wooden boards to the desired lengths.
- Create a rectangular frame by attaching the boards at the corners using screws or nails. A drill will make this easier and more precise.
- Use a spirit level to ensure your frame is even.
- Remove any grass or weeds from the area where your raised bed will sit.
- Fill your raised bed with a mix of quality topsoil and compost. Aim for a 50-50 mix to provide a nutrient-rich environment for your plants.
- Plant your seeds or seedlings according to the spacing recommendations for each type of plant.
- Water them well and add a layer of mulch on top to help retain moisture.
Final Words
Finally, you know how to build a raised garden bed. Keep an eye on it. Water regularly, especially in dry periods. Add compost or fertilizer as needed. Watch for weeds and remove them promptly to keep your garden healthy.