How to Create a Raised Garden Bed

Gardening is one of the greatest pastimes, fulfilling on many levels. But maybe you have rocky or clay soil naturally around your house. Or bugs seem to infest your work. Or you can't get ahead of the weeds. A solution to those kinds of problems might be raised garden beds. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A sunny and open area in the yard
• Stone blocks that can be stacked
• High-quality dirt

How to Create a Raised Garden Bed

1. Evaluate your yard. Where are your open spaces? Spend a day just watching the sun. When does it hit certain spots, and how long does it stay there? Look for the place that gets the most sun for the longest period, and stake that out for your raised beds.

2. Decide how you are going to get water to the spot. This might be the time to extend the sprinkler system. Or create one. The best gardens need a lot of water, so unless you want to carry the hose to this place every morning and night, create a permanent water solution.

3. Outline your beds with stakes. Decide on the shape and size, with crops and use in mind. Decide how much room you want for your favorites and make sure there is enough space available. Make sure you can reach wherever you put plants. Also measure with your materials in mind. If you plan to use stone blocks that are 1 foot long, don't create a bed that has a half foot to it, unless you want to be cutting blocks. Once the stakes are in place, watch the sun again. Make sure you've made the right decision.

4. Stack your blocks high enough so that they can double as a seat for harvesting and weeding. Stone blocks are best because wood tends to rot and deteriorate, especially when well watered. Also make sure there is space enough between beds to walk, mow or do whatever else that's needed.

5. Once you've built the block beds, fill them with high quality dirt. If you plan to eat what you grow, you want nutritious soul that gives its best to your plants. Better dirt also will have less weed seeds, saving your hours in maintenance.

6. With the walls filled with dirt, and the water system in place, test the sprinkler to make sure it covers all of the bed(s). It's best to have a tall sprinkler that can water downward, since once your crops start growing, the leaves of some plants might block out others.

7. Put in plants, in tidy rows. Water regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• Gardening is a great activity to do together as a family. If you can, build a bed for each person and let them grow what they want.
• Gardening can be a heavy time commitment. Make sure you are prepared in the summer to be weeding and tending as well as ready to harvest. When the crops are treated well and ripen, the bounty can be overwhelming to keep up with.