Creating Raised Garden Beds

Are you wanting to include raised beds into your garden? Creating raised garden beds are the perfect solution for growing plants and vegetables in limited spaces. In this article, we will explore great tips for creating beautiful and productive raised garden beds. From selecting the correct location for your raised bed, what types of materials you can use to create a raised bed, to preparing the soil, and extending the life of your plants. We have the answers you can use to get started.

Benefits Of Raised Garden Beds

Creating raised garden beds can have many benefits when using them in the garden. One of the primary benefits of a raised bed is improved drainage. Traditional garden plots can often become waterlogged, especially in heavy rain. However, when you elevate the soil, excess water drains away more efficiently. This can help prevent root rot and create an environment where plants can thrive. Soil compaction will also be improved. This will again help water drain when dealing with excessive rainfall.

Another significant advantage is the ability to control soil quality. With raised beds, you can create the ideal soil mixture tailored specifically for the plants you intend to grow. This means you have the power to amend the soil with organic matter, compost, and other nutrients. You can give the right amount of nutrients and amendments each specific plant needs. It can sometimes be a challenge in a traditional flowerbed where the existing soil may have limitations in terms of fertility, pH levels, or even contamination.

Having a raised bed elevated also means less bending and kneeling. Raised beds help make it accessible for people with mobility issues or those who simply prefer a more comfortable gardening experience.

Choosing The Right Location For Your Raised Garden Beds

First and foremost, consider the amount of sunlight your chosen spot receives before building your raised garden bed. Most vegetables and flowering plants thrive in full sun. This is typically at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.

Observe your garden throughout the day to identify areas that consistently receive adequate light. Avoid placing beds in shaded spots created by trees, fences, or buildings. This can prevent plants from growing to their full potential as well as, having decreased crop yields if you are growing herbs, fruits or vegetables.

Another important factor is accessibility. You will want to make sure that your raised garden beds will be close enough to a water source. There is nothing worse than having a great raised bed but you can’t get the water hose near enough to water your plants.

Finally, assess such conditions that might create a negative effect on your plants, such as, windy areas. Be mindful of strong winds that can damage fragile plants. If your garden is in a windy area, you might want to erect windbreaks or choose a less windy spot.

Selecting The Materials For Your Raised Garden Beds

When it comes to building raised beds, choosing materials is one of the most important decisions you need to consider. It is important to base your decision on durability, availability of materials, and the overall look you are going for. And, I do have my favorites when it comes to materials.

Wood For Raised Garden Beds

Traditionally, wood has been the go-to option for constructing raised beds due to its natural appearance and ease of use. However, it’s important to select the right type of wood. Untreated, rot-resistant woods like cedar or redwood are ideal for raised garden beds. These materials can withstand the elements without leaching harmful chemicals into the soil.

Avoid using treated lumber. These contain harmful chemicals like arsenic and can contaminate the plants you grow in your garden. Even if your plants are not something you would consume such as, vegetables, herbs, or fruits you still need to be careful with using treated lumber. Think of all the pollinators that will be visiting the your plants when they flower. You will also want to make sure that they stay as healthy as possible.

You will also want to avoid using water repellent wood preservative. These can be harmful to the soil, as well.

Hardscapes- Stones, Bricks, and Concrete Blocks

Another option that you have when choosing raised bed materials is stone, brick, or cinder/concrete blocks. These types of materials will not need to be replaced as often as wood. These are commonly referred to as hardscaping materials. They are extremely durable and can give an aesthetic appeal to your garden. On cooler nights the raised beds can retain warmth from daytime heat on stone and brick.

Be mindful that these types of materials are a bit more expensive than wood. Using these materials are also more labor intensive when it comes to installing the raised beds. However, the expense and labor can be well worth it in the end.

Metal For Raised Beds

There are some amazing metal containers on the market that make it easy to add raised beds to your environment. Many of these metal containers are modular- meaning you will need to put it together. They are easy to assemble and can be put together in a short amount of time. These are also easy to move if you need to relocate. Metal containers can be used it small spaces like a patio or balcony. Metal containers are an excellent choice for rooftop gardens.

Recycled Materials

A more eco-friendly alternative, recycled materials can serve as unique and sustainable options for raised beds. These can be old pallets, used metal containers, or anything else that would work to serve as a raised bed. Just ensure that any materials used are safe for planting and free of harmful chemicals. These materials all have their own benefits and drawbacks. You may want to consider your budget, the look you want in your garden, and how long you want your raised beds to last.

My Raised Beds

I created my vegetable beds with concrete cinder blocks for raised garden beds. They are stacked with the holes facing up so that I can plant flowers that will help attract pollinators. I have them stacked two cinder blocks high. I painted the areas of the cinder blocks that would be touching the garden soil using a nontoxic paint. This will protect the food that I grow from any leeched materials from the cinder blocks. One of my favorite features of using cinder blocks is that I can sit on the them to reach into the beds to plant or weed the space. My goal for the beds is to add mosaic tiles to the outside of the cinder blocks.

Designing Your Raised Garden Beds For Maximum Productivity

When creating raised garden beds, you need to consider the types of plants you are adding to the space. Will you be planting vegetables, flowers, herbs, or fruit? Also, think about the look that you want to get from your raised garden beds. Thinking of these factors will help you shape the size of your beds.

You don’t have to be stuck with traditional rectangular beds. You can create L-shaped or circular garden beds to fit your style or space. Do consider the width of the raised beds? It is ideal to have your garden beds no wider than 4 feet wide. This will help you to reach to center of the beds from either side. It can make a difference in planting and maintaining the beds with ease.

When working on the design part of your raised beds think about including vertical elements. You can easily add trellises, arbors, or other vertical aspects that allow your climbing plants a place to go. Plants, such as, cucumbers, beans, or tomatoes need to grow upwards. Growing these types of plants allows ground space for other plants. You can increase your garden’s productivity with vertical elements while adding a visual interest in your space.

My raised garden beds are 4 L-shaped beds facing each other with a cross shaped bed in the middle. I like to think of it as an English style shaped area for my herbs and vegetables. The possibilities in shape and design are completely up to your own imagination and ability.

How Deep Do I Need To Have My Raised Garden Beds?

Most raised beds do fine at 8-12 inches deep. It is perfectly okay to make the beds deeper. Tomatoes and Cucumbers need deeper beds at around 18″ deep. Root vegetables do need a considerable amount of space to develop the plant underground. If you are building your beds to keep from bending over as much and make gardening easier, then feel free to create raised beds as tall as you need.

Do I Need To Line A Raised Garden Bed?

The question I have been asked is if a raised garden bed needs to be lined. Honestly, it depends. I would say that most of the time you don’t need to line them. However, if you only had pressure treated wood as your source for the sides then I would line it. Mine is cinder blocks and I did not line any of them.

Preparing The Soil For Raised Garden Beds

Which type of soil you add to your raised bed is determined by what you are planting in the bed. Different plants have different requirements. In addition, I have seen some people add gravel to the bottom of their beds to help improve drainage. I have not had any problems with drainage on my property, so I did not add gravel to my raised beds. I am in my 4th year with these beds with no problems.

You can add chicken wire to the bottom of your raised beds if you have problems with gophers or other soil dwelling rodents. This will help keep them away from your plants from the ground up.

One of the most common soil mixes that work with most plants is a blend of equal parts compost and topsoil. Every year I add Happy Frog Soil Conditioner to my raised beds. This helps add mycorrhizal for root health of my plants. I also add compost and mulch every year to help enrich the soil. The soil structure, water retention and aeration are improved as time goes on. Encouraging beneficial microorganisms, worms and other creatures contribute to a healthy growing environment. This paves the way for healthy plants and a flourishing garden.

Planting And Maintaining Your Raised Garden Beds

What you plant is determined by your climate, the time of year, and your personal preferences. If you are planting vegetables you will need to plant what is in season at that time of year. When starting out you can make a trip down to your local nursery to see what is in season. I am not talking about those big box stores- find a local grower or mom and pop nursery to get your plants.

My favorite place to go is called Enchanted Gardens. I have been going for over 20 years. These types of nurseries have employees’ that know plants. They can answer all types of questions and give great advice. When the time comes you can grow your plants from seed. However, I love going to my favorite nursery spot (even when I don’t need anything).

To have a continuous harvest of vegetables try succession planting. This is when you stagger your planting and don’t plant everything on the same day. Plant some of your plants one week and then more the next week. Depending on the plant this can be done over several weeks ensuring you have vegetables to harvest over a long period. This extends your growing season.

When planting you will want to space out your plants to prevent overcrowding. Overcrowding can lead to competition for resources, resulting in stunted growth and increased susceptibility to disease. Follow the recommended spacing guidelines for each plant type, allowing for adequate airflow and sunlight to reach each one.

Water your young plants regularly to help the plants establish their roots. Raised beds tend to dry out faster than traditional gardens, so keep an eye on moisture levels. Water when needed, especially during dry spells. Additionally, implement a routine for monitoring plant health, weeding, and mulching to suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture.

Pest Control And Disease Prevention In Raised Garden Beds

I highly recommend promoting biodiversity within your garden. This can be achieved by planting a variety of crops and including flowers that attract beneficial insects. This could be insects such as ladybugs and lacewings, which prey on common garden pests. Companion planting can also deter harmful insects; for instance, planting basil near tomatoes can help repel aphids and whiteflies.

It is a good idea to monitor your plants on a regular basis. Inspect your plants for signs of pests, the insects that are not beneficial. Also, inspect your plants for diseases. Do you see leaves that are discolored or browned in areas. There are many places online that can help with identification of both diseases and pests. Disease can spread quickly, especially when watering. When watering your plants try to water the soil and not the top of the plants. This helps prevent the spread of disease.

Other Tips To Keeping Healthy Plants

• Try to avoid overcrowding plants when planting.
• Practicing crop rotation from season to season can also reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases.
• Keep your garden clean by removing debris and fallen leaves. This can minimize the chances of fungal infections.
• You can remove any diseased leaves before they affect leaves nearby.

Extending The Growing Season In Raised

To extend the growing season in your raised garden beds, consider using season-extending techniques. These could be row covers, cold frames, or hoop houses.

• These structures can trap heat and protect plants from frost.
• You can start to plant earlier in the spring and continue harvesting later into the fall.

Perennials, such as asparagus or rhubarb, can provide harvests year after year with minimal replanting. While late-season varieties of vegetables like kale or Brussels sprouts can thrive in cooler weather. This approach ensures that you have options available throughout the entire growing season, maximizing the productivity of your raised garden beds.

Enjoying The Beauty And Productivity Of Your Raised Garden Beds

As you embark on your gardening journey, don’t forget to enjoy the process. Gardening is not just about the end result but also about the connection to nature. Take time to appreciate the beauty of your raised garden beds. This appreciation will enhance your gardening experience and motivate you to continue exploring and expanding your garden.

Happy gardening!