DIY Raised Bed Gardens: 6 Steps to Build Your Own Elevated Garden

Building a raised bed garden is great where the soil quality is poor. They also add more growing space if you have a small garden space. They are also easier to manage unlike open ground and allow you to grow vegetables, fruits and flowers.

Another reason why most people ditch ground gardens for a raised bed garden is that it is easier to manage pests and weeds and easy to protect your plants during winter. You can provide the right environment for your plants.

But how easy is it to create a DIY raised bed garden? This article shares six simple steps to build your own raised bed garden. You can build your raised garden any time of the year in a day or two.

What Are The Benefits Of Raised Bed Gardens?

So why are raised bed gardens more beneficial than normal gardens? Let’s look at why you should make the switch.

1. Soil quality

When you create a raised bed garden, you can control the type of soil you want in the garden. It is also easier to remove all the soil and replace it with high quality organic mix or add fertilizer and make the soil more nutritious to the plants.

2. Easy to maintain

A raised bed is elevated from the ground and reduces the need to keep bending to tend to plants. Thus it is easy even for people with mobility or physical limitations because you don’t have to keep kneeling or bending and is easy to access.

3. Can prevent flooding

With a raised bed, you can prevent excess rainwater from washing away the soil. You will be able to add drainage holes to prevent war logging that can cause root rot or kill some plants.

4. Fewer weeds and pests

Weeds and pests are a nuisance to gardening. The good news is that raised bed gardens create a barrier between the ground and the plants. This helps to reduce the weeds that flock to an open ground garden.

5. Grow plants all year long

Raised beds make it easy to grow your plants all year long because the beds allow you to control the soil temperatures.

How to Build a Raised Bed Garden Step By Step

Now that we agree that raised bed gardens are a great investment for gardeners, let’s look at the simple ways to make your own.

1. Choose the right location

Before you start planting your vegetables and herbs you need to choose the right location for your raised bed. Choose a place with adequate sun because that’s part of the essentials for healthy plant growth.

The spot you choose should also be accessible. It should be where you can easily add a hose pipe or carry water to water the plants or be able to go harvest your vegetables.

2. Figure out the size of the garden

Now that you have the right location it’s time to choose the right size for your garden according to the space you have. The raised bed should not be too small or too big that it squeezes other things in your space.

The size of the raised garden is also dependent on what plants you want to grow. Do you want to grow a few herbs or will you grow multiple plants? You should be able to reach the center of the raised bed without having to step into it.

3. Get the required materials

Before you start building you need to ensure that you have all the required materials to make the process seamless. If you’re building the raised bed with wood, then get all the board, a drill, saw and screw. If you are building with concrete, then you need to purchase the stones and cement.

You may also need cardboard, newspapers or fabric to add to the bottom of the bed to keep weeds from growing below the bed.

4. Build the frame of the bed

Whether you will use concrete blocks or wood, start with creating the frame according to the width and height you want for the raised bed garden.

Ensure all the parts are tightly secured to ensure it lasts long and will not wobble or shift and affect your plants.

5. Add the soil

Once the frame is in place it’s time to add the soil. Choose high quality oil mix to provide the best nutrients for your plants. You can add organic fertilizer or compost to the soil.

Ensure that the soil is well draining to prevent root rot. Distribute the soil evenly on the bed using a rake. The soil should be deep enough to ensure the plants grow and have something to hold on to.

6. It’s time to plant!

The raised bed is now ready to host your plants and yield a bountiful harvest. Select plants that you want depending on the soil, weather conditions and the sunlight exposure needs. Some of the plants that are suitable for raised bed gardens include vegetables, flowers and herbs.

Plant the tall plants behind and the short ones at the front. You can plant them in rows according to the species to add aesthetics to your garden. You can also consider planting companion plants that benefit from each other. For example, plant tomatoes near basil to deter pests.

Have a weekly watering schedule for your plants to ensure that plants have the right moisture to grow. Also, remember to prune and remove weeds to ensure that nothing deters their growth.

FAQs

• What is the cheapest way to make raised beds?

The cheapest way to make raised beds is to use concrete blocks or cinder blocks. They are affordable and easy to use.

• What should I put at the bottom of a raised garden bed?

The best things to put at the bottom of a raised garden bed include cardboard, landscape fabric, a sack, a cardboard or stainless steel mesh

• Can I make my own raised bed?

Yes! It’s easy to make your own raised bed. Ensure to use materials that are long-lasting and allow for draining to prevent waterlogging

• How big is a DIY raised bed garden?

Most raised beds are about 4 feet wide and 8 feet long. You can make a DIY raised bed garden between 2 and 4 feet wide and 5 and 10 feet long.

• Can you build a raised bed with bricks?

You can build a raised bed garden with bricks because they make strong and long lasting beds. Add a double brick wall for raised bed gardens that are higher than 2 feet.

Final Thoughts

Building DIY raised bed gardens is an easy way to grow your favorite plants in limited space. It is fun and rewarding to watch your plants grow. Raised bed gardens also help you control the soil quality, and keep off pests and weeds. If you have been looking for simple ways to create your raised bed garden, then the step-by-step guide will be beneficial. Are you ready to create your first raised bed garden? Share your views in the comment section below.

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