Ways to Build a Raised Garden Bed

Ways to Build a Raised Garden Bed

Article by Russell Holmes

The very first time I was asked to build a raised garden bed wasfor the mother of a close friend of mine who was confined to a wheelchair immediately after a hip injury. She missed her garden and we created a couple of raised flower beds for her. They were such good results that we spent the next spring building various raised beds for her and sooner or later transformed her complete garden to raised beds and packed paths that she could gain access to simply with wheelchair or garden scooter. Soon after those primary experiments I’ve made a lot of raised garden beds for myself and others. The supplies I use change with what’s available but the dimensions and structure remain very significantly the identical.

Size

The width of a raised garden bed really should be about 4 feet. You need to be able to reach the middle of the bed from either side with no significantly leaning. The length might be whatever size you prefer to fit the space you happen to be working with. Height need to be about 2 to 1-1/2 feet. You desire a height that is certainly effortless to work from a raised kneeler. If the individual you are building for is in a wheelchair then you may well need to go higher dependant upon their mobility and size. If in doubt, experiment with the user to see what by far the most comfortable height for them is. The joy of building it yourself, you get to make a decision what performs to suit your needs.

The Frame

I build my frame in place. Stake out your corners and arrange your posts the height you like. I use left over 4×4’s from fencing or other projects, just be sure you’re not employing treated lumber. I establish them about 8 inches deep and use a maul to pound them in a little bit further. I use string to keep them square. You’ll be able to see I use many fancy products! Dependant upon the size of the bed, you might need to have added posts along the side, 2×4’s work effectively for this.

The sides might be constructed up with what ever products you have. I have applied left over fencing, 2×4’s, cherry timbers, rocks, whatever is offered. As long as the sides are solid and can hold the soil.

Fill It Up

What goes in to the raised garden bed is far more critical than what you use to build it. Without very good soil there’s no point. I use a strategy that I prefer to start off in the fall for the up coming season’s planting.First, cover the bottom of the raised bed with various thicknesses of newspaper, about an inch. Use newsprint, not the slick advertisements. This can act as a barrier as well as killing the grass and other weeds and will sooner or later break down into compost.

From here on out we’re fundamentally going to be building a compost pile. Start off using a layer of yard clippings, next some soil and/or manure if you’ve got access to it, then add a layer of peat moss. When you build a raised garden bed continue to keep layering the soil and compost, heaping them until you happen to be really a bit above the height of the bed sprinkling every single layer with water as you go.

Let the raised garden bed sit throughout the winter. It is going to decay and settle to provide you the right spot to start out your spring peas.

About the Author

Russell Holmes is an avid gardener devoted to building the world’s best compost and keeping chemicals out of his personal food chain. Stop by BESTCOMPOST.INFO for more information on building the world’s best compost for your own garden.

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