How to Dig a Trench for a Raised Flower Bed

Raised flower beds are a popular choice for gardeners looking to minimize garden maintenance and get the most out of small spaces. Another advantage of a raised bed is the soil quality can be improved easily by mixing in compost. To raise the bed above ground level and improve soil quality, you'll first need to dig a trench.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine the size of your raised bed. Mark off the length and width so you will know how long your trench needs to be.

2. Dig a strip about 1-foot deep with a garden spade. The width should be about the same width as the spade. Place the removed soil in a wheel barrow.

3. Add a 3-inch layer of compost to the bottom of the trench. Also add any soil amendments required for the plants you intend to use in the raised bed, such as blood mean, bone mean lime or peat moss.

4. Mix in the soil amendments and compost to the existing soil with a garden fork. Use the fork to loosen the soil the top several inches of the existing soil and mix in the compost.

5. Make another trench directly beside your first trench. Move the soil from the new trench over to fill in the first trench. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire raised bed.

6. Place another layer of soil amendments and compost on the raised bed when you have finished digging the trenches. The bed has already been raised 3 inches, so decide how much higher you need to raise the bed and add the necessary amount of compost. When you are through, mix in the compost with the rest of the soil in the bed.

Resources

• Get more information on raising a garden bed.