How To Build a Raised Garden Bed

Raised gardening is popular with seasoned green thumbs and beginners alike. It takes a lot of the hassle out of clearing sod and tilling the soil, and you get outstanding production from them.

This complete remodeling article will help you build a raised garden bed in a few easy steps.

Step 1

Choose a level location that will receive full sun throughout the growing season. Plan to run the beds and the rows of plants north to south to take best advantage of the sun. If you’re going to build more than one bed, leave three feet between them for a wheelbarrow or lawn mower.

Step 2

Plan the size of your bed. A bed one foot high is enough for most plants, and you can build it higher but you will need a lot more soil if you do. The width shouldn’t be more than four feet. This allows you to reach in from both sides without having to get into the beds.

Step 3

Choose your building materials. Most gardeners use treated lumber. If this is the route you take, consider adding a piece of horizontal lumber at the top, perhaps one by four inches, to make a more comfortable and stable spot to lean on. Other options include pouring concrete walls or using block. Be careful to check what the lumber is treated with.

Step 4

Prepare the ground by removing weeds and roots if they exist. You may want to spray the area with a natural grass killer a few weeks in advance. Some gardeners remove the turf, but it’s not necessary. Then, outline the bed with chalk and dig a trench that will allow you to bury the sides of the bed at least six inches deep.

Step 5

Build or pour the bed using the materials you’ve decided on. If you use lumber, you may want to sink anchoring posts at each corner for stability. Once the bed is built, cover the ground with landscape cloth to prevent the growth of vegetation below it. For protection against pests, consider adding a layer of hardware cloth. This is a steel mesh cloth that can not be chewed through by moles or other critters. If the ground beneath the bed is heavy clay, consider adding one or two inches of pea stone before you lay down the mesh. This will help with drainage.

Step 6

Add a mixture of top soil, compost, peat moss and soil mix for planters. Do some research on the right blend for the types of plants you intend to grow. Putting together an enriched blend will allow you to get much higher yields for the space used than you might in a traditional garden. Water the soil to compact it slightly.

Once this step is done, you’re ready to begin planting. For advanced raised garden beds, you can build a PVC and plastic sheet canopy over the bed quite simply in order to extend the growing season by about a month on either end. A sprinkler system with a raised, rotating spigot can also be installed. The steps above will get you a basic raised garden bed that will grow great crops. Where you take it from there is up to you.

For guides on bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, basement remodeling, and outdoor remodeling projects, visit our helpful learning articles for tips and tricks!