Building Raised Garden Beds: All the Things You Need to Consider
Building raised garden beds can be a great way when you want to have more space in your garden. A raised bed is also a good option when you have poor soil and yet you want to ensure healthy crop. If you are able to plan ahead, you can have a DIY project over the weekend. It’s even possible that you quickly grow your favorite plants and expect the best outcome.
Planning
When you want to learn further about how to make a garden bed in the ground, the first thing you need to do is to plan out everything. Deciding where to do it and come out with the layout would be the basic foundation of your gardening success.
Make sure that the chosen location gets 6 hours (8 hours, max) of sunlight exposure – at least. Don’t forget that it would be convenient if the location is close to the water source, so you won’t have to struggle with watering.
Frame Building
Once you’ve chosen your spot and measured out the size for building raised garden beds, it's time to build the frame. Go with untreated wood, like cedar or redwood, because these woods are naturally resistant to rot and can last for years.
Avoid treated lumber, as chemicals can leach into the soil, affecting the plants. You could also use materials like bricks, stones, or even recycled materials, but wood is often the easiest to work with.
Bed Filling
Now that your frame is ready, the next step is filling it with soil. One of the biggest benefits of raised garden beds is that you can control the quality of the soil. It’s best to use a mix of topsoil, compost, and organic matter like peat moss or coconut coir.
This creates a nutrient-rich environment that retains moisture while allowing for proper drainage. Don’t just use topsoil, but incorporate organic matter too. It will ensure that your soil won’t be compacted over time.
Start Planting
With your bed filled with soil, it’s time to plant. Arrange your plants based on their size and sunlight requirements, keeping taller plants toward the back so they don’t shade smaller ones.
When planting, leave enough space between the plants so they have room to grow. When plants are overcrowded, it causes poor air circulation. Not to mention that it increases diseases risks.
Caring Tips
The key to successful gardening is to make sure that your plants are well-watered. Another thing about building raised garden beds is to understand that they tend to dry faster than the in ground types. Consider about watering the plants more often than the regular, and this is especially crucial in hot weather.
Other helpful tips are:
• Try adding mulch surrounding the plants to maintain moisture and to prevent weeds
• Soil health is also important, which means that having organic matter or fresh compost would be helpful.
• Check for diseases and pests. If you find any issues early, you can immediately find the solution.
In the end, it can be quite rewarding to have a raised bed in your garden. You’re the man having the full control of building raised garden beds as the way you like it.