How to Make a Raised Bed in the Garden

It can be difficult to know where to start to make a raised bed in a garden. Home gardens are gaining popularity with the global recession looming, as gardening is an easy way to save money. Making a raised bed in the garden is a simple way to save space and save money.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• wood in 1 by 6 by 8 foot sections
• a drill
• deck screws
• peat moss
• perlite
• vermiculite
• compost
• a tarp or large bucket
• seeds or plants

1. Start by cutting the wood to size. The wood should be 1inch by 6 inches by 8 feet. Do not use treated wood, as the chemicals in treated wood will leach into the garden. For a 4 foot by 4 foot raised bed, cut the wood in half to create 4 foot sections. For a deeper raised bed, you'll need to stack the wood by making two frames and screwing them together. A raised bed should not be more than 4 feet wide in order for the average gardener to easily reach into the middle of the bed. Remember that part of the point of having a raised bed in the garden is to never walk on the growing medium in the raised bed. Raised beds can vary in size depending on the space available in the garden. If the raised bed is to be up against a wall (say, the wall of a house), it should be no longer than 2 feet across for ease of reaching the back. Raised beds can vary from 2 feet by 2 feet to 4 feet by 12 feet. It's not recommended to build a raised bed bigger than 4 feet by 12 feet.

2. After the wood is cut to size, determined by space available in the garden and desired placement of the raised bed, arrange the wood in such a way that the first piece is pressed up against the second piece. If you are using wood pieces that are 4 feet by inches by 1 inch, the first piece should meet the second piece where the first piece is at the end, at 6 inches by 1 inch, and the second piece is at the very end of the 4 foot section. Do not attempt to line up the pieces to meet at both edges, as the raised bed will not be square.

3. Arrange all 4 pieces of wood in such a way that the end of one, at 6 inches by 1 inch, is touching the end of the other, at the end of the 4 foot section, to create the effect that the ends are rotated at alternate corners to create a square inside.

4. Use a drill and deck screws to hold the bed together at the corners. Use 2 screws in each corner to ensure the bed is sturdy and stable. Do not paint the wood or treat it in any way.

5. Place the raised bed in its desired location in the garden. You'll be placing it in its semi-permanent location, as the frame of the bed can be moved, if desired, as long as annual plants are raised in the raised bed. If perennials are planted, the plants will need to be moved in order to move the bed. Plan on keeping the bed at its desired location for at least one growing season. If grass or weeds are present at the desired site of the raised bed, place several layers of newspaper over them at this point to kill them.

6. Mix the growing medium. I like to use one part perlite and one part vermiculite to create one-third of the mix. You can use all perlite, all vermiculite, or a combination. If desired, mix the perlite and vermiculite together first. You can mix the two in a large container, such as an outdoor garbage bin (not previously used for garbage) or a tarp, if you have a friend helping you mix.

7. Add peat moss to the perlite and vermiculite, mixing well. Use one part peat moss to one part perlite/vermiculite mixture. If using a tarp, you and a friend will need to gently agitate either side of the tarp, or set the tarp down and mix with your hands. If you don't have a helper, it's easiest to mix in a large container with your hands.

8. Add compost. Use a ratio of one part compost to one part peat moss to one part perlite/vermiculite mixture. Mix well so that the growing medium is evenly distributed and not clumpy.

9. Pour the growing medium into the raised bed frame. Use a rake or your hands to spread the growing medium evenly throughout the frame. Set your hose so that the water comes out slowly, and slowly soak the growing medium of the raised bed.

10. When the growing medium in the raised bed is evenly moist, not soaking, plant seeds or plants.

Tips & Warnings

• Perlite is cheaper than vermiculite, but vermiculite does a better job of aerating the soil. I use a mix of both for that reason. As long as your potting medium is evenly mixed, you can use all perlite as a way to save money.
• If you have good soil in your garden already, you can add some to the raised bed so that a quarter of the growing medium is garden soil, a quarter is perlite/vermiculite, a quarter is peat moss, and a quarter is compost.
• Do not use any type of treated wood. The chemicals in the treated wood will leach into the soil and be taken up by the plants in the raised bed.

[anthonya]

on 10/8/2009 Good tips. Raised beds are a great solution for yards with poor soil.