There are many options to planting a garden, including using raised garden beds. Building a raised garden bed doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. There are many inexpensive materials you can use – wood, concrete blocks, trees you have just cut down, wattle (branches/limbs woven together) or bricks. One way to save money is to repurpose wood from old barns and other buildings. Check freecycle.org and craigslist.org.
The best size is 4’ wide by whatever length you want. You will still be able to reach the center of the width for weeding and care of your vegetables.
Reasons to Build a Raised Bed
- Easy access, don’t have to bend over as far to take care of
- Quick solution to poor soil – total control over the soil you add
- Less tilling, better weed control
- Better drainage
- Soil warms up earlier and stays that way longer
- Tidy and neat looking
- Keeps pets and children out better
Supplies Needed for a 4×8′ Bed
- Drill
- ⅛” drill bit
- Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver bit for your drill
- Saw
- Lump hammer or regular hammer
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Utility knife
Materials Needed
- 3 – 8’ 2x10x8’ wolmanized boards
- 3 ½” weather resistant fluted head screws
- 4 pieces of 12” long ½” rebar
- Landscape fabric
Steps
- Find the center of one of the 2x10s and mark it with a pencil
- Cut this board in half on the mark
- Layout the 2 cut boards with the long boards on the sides to create a rectangle
- Drill 3 holes about ¾” from the ends of each long board
- Screw the long boards to the ends of the short boards
- Position your frame exactly where you want it in your garden
- Hammer 2 pieces of rebar equidistantly on the outside but tight against each long board
- Cut landscape fabric and fit inside your frame but allow it to go up on the sides a bit
- Fill with soil, compost and other amendments
- Repeat for as many garden beds as you want to make
Now that your raised bed is ready for planting, read our blog Starting a Vegetable Garden for more information on how and what to plant. Remember to water your garden regularly, pull weeds and keep pests out and you should be able to enjoy your bountiful harvest in the months to come!
Sources
042 – Raised Bed Gardening, Pt.1: Getting Started
https://joegardhttps://learn.eartheasy.com/articles/how-to-build-a-raised-garden-bed-best-kits-and-diy-plans/ener.com/podcast/raised-bed-gardening-pt-1/