Garden beds raised or garden boxes, which are also known as they are a popular method for gardeners and homeowners to enthusiasts to set up an area of small-scale gardening which can be used to plant plants, flowers, and even vegetables. If you’re looking to build a raised garden, you can purchase an already-built one from a garden store however, it has its own set of pitfalls.
The first issue is the price that can be high particularly if you want to buy a larger one. Additionally, they’re produced in fixed sizes which could not fit your landscape and this could be the case for the materials used, and the colors too.
Another option is to construct your garden bed. In this article, we’re going to show you how you can accomplish this, how to design the layout, the items you’ll need, what alternatives you can choose from, and, of course, how to construct it.
Benefits of Raised Garden Bed
Before we start creating your garden’s raised bed If you’re not familiar with them or not sure if they provide any benefits we’ll review some of their major advantages.
First, they’re ideal for people who have small gardens or small spaces, which also means that they are simpler to maintain and organize. When you have raised garden beds also, you have total control over the kind of soil that you employ and thus can determine the quality of your soil and its nutritional levels.
The biggest problem facing gardeners is weeds. However, with a raised garden, weeds have a greater difficulty in establishing due to the bed being farther away from and elevated above other garden weeds.
In the end, and for many, the most significant advantage of raised garden beds is that it has deeper roots as well as better drainage permits to speed up and increase the development of flowers and plants.
Plan Your Garden Bed Garden Bed
The process of planning the raised garden bed does not just pertain to it but also to your entire garden, as you’ll have to decide the number you would like and where they should be placed. This could be a challenge for those who are looking to build an elevated garden bed so much that they abandon the idea before even beginning.
Along with the layout and design, the garden will be a factor, you’ll particularly have to think of the kinds of plants you intend to plant in your garden bed raised. This is because different species that require different exposure to sunlight. This must be taken into consideration in determining the best location for your garden bed raised.
The Equipment and the Materials Required
It’s probably obvious that if we wanted to list the things needed to construct every possible kind, shape, and dimension of the garden bed raised, we’d need to make a complete book, rather than an essay. This is why we’ll focus on the most basic kind of garden bed raised, constructed of wood, having the dimensions 8’x4.
The kind of wood you choose to use is based on your personal preferences, but If you are looking for a material that is resistant to water, then cedar and redwood are the two options you’ll need. Another option that lasts longer is to use pressure-treated lumber however, it is important to ensure whether it’s deemed as safe according to The Environmental Protection Agency.
The drawback of these woods is the high cost, therefore if you are looking for wooden materials that are less expensive then consider the hemlock, fir, or pine.
Here is the complete following list:
- Two panels of wood eight feet by 12 inches 2 inches
- Two panels of wood four feet by 12 inches 2 inches
- Rebar made of 12 pieces each measuring 2 feet each
- Paper or cardboard — sufficient to completely cover the base
- The soil you prefer
The only tool you’ll need is a mallet, or perhaps an e-roller.
Instructions to build an Elevated Garden Bed
- Before you begin building your garden, make sure that the raised garden bed will be placed on a level area of ground. If needed, you can employ a roller to smooth any bumps that are raised that are on your ground.
- The four lengths of timber are in a flat position on the floor so that they touch at the four corners.
- Set one of the longest lengths of timber on its edge. Make two pieces of rebar, and place each at a distance of 12 inches from the one. Utilizing the mallet made of rubber use a mallet to hammer the pieces of bar deep enough in the ground that it’s secured.
- Make each of the shorter lengths of the wood panel each one at a time, and then place a piece of rebar at the center of each. Place the rebar pieces in the ground using your hands, to give temporary support to the two lengths.
- Set the other length up and adjust the pieces until they’re aligned correctly. After they’ve been aligned, you can take two pieces of the rebar and set them at a distance of 12 inches from either end of the other long length. Hammer into the ground to support it.
- For each short length, you should place a rebar bar 12 inches from the other end. Hammer in the soil, so that just six inches remain over the ground. It is then possible to take the temporary rebar supports off.
- For each length, add two pieces of rebar, each 2 feet away from the existing supports. Now, you should hammer each support of the rebar until about 6 inches are visible over the ground.
- Then, place the cardboard or newspaper so that it is completely covered within the raised bed and then wet it thoroughly. Then, you can sprinkle the soil on top.