Maybe you’ve seen someone working hard to put in a beautiful raised garden bed. Raised beds are a great way to make fruits, veggies and herbs thrive even where there is poor soil, no soil or in an urban setting. Raised beds have good drainage and can easily be hooked up to a drip irrigation system.
It’s not just about drainage; raised beds can save on all the back strain as well. There is a lot less bending over, which is extremely beneficial to older gardeners or those with a bad back. Plan accordingly when it comes to size! 4’ wide is a safe bet as you’ll be able to easily reach the center of the bed from either side.
Beds that are taller than 18” should have cross supports. The more soil added creates extra pressure on the sides and the wood will start to bow if not braced properly. The certain types of plants going in can help determine depth as some have root systems that require more space.
First figure out what size you’re looking to build and then select the lumber for the frames carefully. You’ll want to shy away from treated as some of the chemicals can seep into the soil your plants are feeding off of. Cedar is a safe bet as it is naturally resistant to rot without any treatment. On average you can expect about 10 years of life from cedar.
The fun part, at least for us, is filling the beds with a pile of fluffy, nutrient rich soil. Our garden mix is the perfect blend of topsoil compost and sand. All your garden goodies will be sure to flourish resting in this mix.
If you want a finished look, that’s easy to maintain, around your raised beds mulch can be the perfect solution.