How to Build Raised Gardens

Raised Garden Beds

Introduction:

If your garden area is wet with excess ground water that does not properly drain then a raised garden bed may be your answer. Raised gardens are easy to build and easier to maintain than a congenital garden. A raised garden will save you a lot of that back pain you get by bending over to plants, remove weeds, and hopefully harvest the crops. Essentially a raised garden are clusters of garden boxes arranged in your garden plot.

How to build raised gardens:

The first step is to determine the location. Most vegetable and flowers require a lot of sun to produce a good harvest, so select a location for the raised garden that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day. The site should be relatively level and near a water source.

The second step is to build the frame for the garden. I recommend using pressure treaded wood for the frame so it will last several years. You can use any height that is convenient for you to work with. I recommend a height of at least twelve inches. Mark the locations for the corners of the box and dig four 12 to 18 inch hole for 4 x 4 inch corner posts. Place a post in each hole and backfill the soil. Firmly press the soil around each post to stabilize it. Then attach the side boards on the inside of the post to form the box.

The third step is to fill the box with soil to the top of the frame. This depth is required for the plant roots and to allow rainwater or irrigation water to drain properly through the soil. The soil should be mixed humus, sand, and manure inside the frame and rake the top smooth. This mixture contains rich soil nutrients and the sand provides good drainage. This is critical since good drainage produces healthy roots and, in turn, results in full-bodied plants and tasty veggies.

The last step is to select an assortment of cool or warm season vegetables or flowers for harvest during the appropriate time of the year. Lay them out in the raised bed according to their spacing requirements. Use a trowel to dig a hole large enough to accommodate each root ball, place the plant carefully in the hole, and backfill with soil. Water plants thoroughly. Place stakes around the vegetables and flowers that require them. For an added measure place a two to three inch layer of mulch around the base of the plants.

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