December 12, 2022
Raised beds are so advantageous for a number of reasons. They can be used to grow a variety of different plants and vegetables, they’re easier to take care of and they look great as well! That’s why it’s no surprise that more and more people are starting to use them. In this article we will explain everything you need to know about building raised gardens for gardening.
A raised bed is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a bed that’s elevated above the ground. This can be achieved in a number of different ways. You can use stone, bricks, concrete or wooden blocks. Whatever you decide on, you can be sure that it’ll be more stable than a traditional raised bed. This increased height allows you to grow taller plants and, in turn, larger harvest yield. This is because taller plants have a greater reach to gather sunlight. They can also grow larger roots that are able to reach into the soil bed for better nutrient absorption. This is especially helpful for heavy feeders like tomatoes, peppers and potatoes.
Raised garden beds should have at least 8 inches of soil depth to accommodate the root systems of plants. (Roughly speaking, most plant roots require 6 – 8 inches of soil for healthy root growth, so a depth of 8 – 12 inches might suffice for most gardening situations).
(Note that you can actually build a raised bed be installed on a concrete surface, such as a patio or even a balcony! You might need to opt for a slightly taller one, i.e. the 6" one might not be the best option).
The required depth of soil depends on your plant choices. Here’s basic overview of what you can grow in beds of various depths:
Plants suitable for 6” raised beds
Plants suitable for 12” raised beds
Plants suitable for 20” raised beds
Building a raised bed for gardening is actually quite easy. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps and you’ll be up and running in no time!
Decide on the type of bed you want to build. There are a few different options to consider when it comes to building a raised bed. First is the material to use: for a first garden bed, go with a cost effective option such as lumber, concrete blocks or even a modified animal trough.
If you want to build a rectangular raised bed, you can either use a concrete base or a brick base. If you want to build a circular raised bed, you can either use a concrete base or a block base. If you’re unsure what type of bed to build, simply start with a rectangular raised bed. This is the most common bed type and is suitable for most types of plants.
Find a location for your raised bed. Having a central location for your raised bed is the best option. This allows you to easily access from either side to water and maintain it easily. It both allows your plants to reach adequate levels of sunlight and creates ready access for the gardener.
Also, consider what you will eventually grow in your bed, as well as the planting layout you have in mind. You probably want to lay out the beds so they are horizontally facing south. If your bed is aligned with the ends facing south, you may have taller plants in the front block out the sunlight for the smaller plants in back.
If you haven't used the ground for gardening, the soil in your growing spot should be ‘turned over’, i.e. you want to dig it up to a depth of around 16” (40 cm). Check the composition of the soil. Pull out any rocks, and keep an eye out for any roots which may be growing beneath. These roots can take away from the fertility of your soil. Pull any roots back towards their source.
You might want to leave the dug up soil piled up squarely in the center, so you can easily build or set the bed in place around the soil without having to move the soil around yet again.
Also, with the dug up soil, it'll be easier to level the growing site. (Yes, making sure the site is level is quite important, as it makes watering the plants evenly much easier).
Build the actual bed!
Regardless of the depth of your bed, here's how to prepare the raised bed for planting:
These steps accomplish several things at once: By adding cardboard, you lessen the chance of weeds coming through the ground into your bed. By adding leaf litter and branches, you add nutrients to the soil but also space, which reduces the amount of top soil a gardener will need to purchase.
Add plants!
Make sure you water your raised bed thoroughly, but not so much that water is pooling. An easy way to check if your raised bed needs more water is by inserting your finger into the soil up until the second knuckle. If the soil is clinging to your finger and damp, no need to water. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water once again.
If you are going to build several beds, leave a generous width between beds for the pathways. It helps when pathways between beds are wide enough for your wheelbarrow. It might even make sense to mulch the pathways.
And there you have it! Your raised bed is now ready for use. Once it’s built, you can simply fill it with seedlings or plant seeds directly. Once they’re planted and watered, they’ll be ready to grow.