If you are interested in oneGardening in springIf you decide, there are practical methods you can use to build raised beds yourself. There is no question that such solutions are popular for good reason. Not only do they look great in a backyard garden, but they also ease the workload that comes with gardening traditional in-ground beds. However, you may be wondering which system is best for you. Should you go with a pre-built kit or start from scratch? Here is some useful information that can help you realize such a DIY project.
Before you build your own raised beds yourself following simple steps
Not every garden has the perfect soil for itGrowing a vegetable garden. Regardless of whether your garden soil is clay or stony, at some point you have been curious about how you can build affordable raised beds yourself. The good news is that this isn't that difficult and can be made from a variety of materials, including rot-resistant cedar. As mentioned, building a raised bed can be a great spring project. The step-by-step instructions will help you build simple systems from scratch. In addition, there are kits on the market that are easy to build with little time and expense. This does not necessarily require any special DIY skills. It's best to first figure out what type of wood or material you want to use and how big your raised beds should be.
Benefits and supplies needed for a wooden raised bed
So why should you consider raised beds made from inexpensive wooden materials such as pallets or boards, also known as planters or garden boxes? Such materials offer a number of benefits to help your plants thrive. Apart from the fact that you do thisKeep pests in check in the garden, your soil will warm up much sooner in the spring season. This means that your crops also have a chance to grow sooner. Additionally, vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants send their roots deeper in search of water, so they are likely to be healthier as a result.
If you want to save money by building raised beds yourself, the nice thing about a raised bed made of wood is that it is cheap and easy to build. The wood and reinforcement are affordable if you use untreated pine boards, for example. The entire oneBuilding a DIY raised bedYou can also complete it in less than an hour, which is of course time-saving. The untreated pine may only last five to ten years, but due to the nature of this construction, each board is easily replaceable without taking apart the entire raised bed. For a 1.20 x 2.40 meter raised bed you will need the following materials:
- Two 2 x 12 boards, each 8 feet long
- Two 2 x 12 boards, each 1.2 meters long
- 12 pieces as reinforcement, each 60 cm long
- A rubber mallet and drill/driver (if needed)
- Newspaper or cardboard
- Soil to fill the finished frame
Build your own wooden raised beds instructions step by step
- First, determine the correct position for your boards.
- Then position the boards on a flat section of floor so that their inner corners touch.
- First, place a long board on its side and use a rubber mallet to hammer two rebars into the ground a few inches deep, 12 inches from each corner.
- Then support the short sides.
- Use a piece of rebar in the middle of each as a temporary support.
- Next, support the second long side and adjust the orientation of your frame as needed.
- Then pound the rebar a few inches deep, about 12 inches from each corner of the second long side.
- After that, reinforce the frame by adding more support.
- Punch the rebar a few inches deep, about 12 inches from each corner of the short sides, and remove the temporary supports.
- Add two pieces of rebar 2 feet apart along each long side. These reinforce the frame when it is filled with soil.
- Then drive in the reinforcement until it is exposed between 15 and 25 cm above the ground.
- Line the bottom of your frame with newspaper or cardboard and moisten it thoroughly.
- Finally, fill your raised bed with soil to a few centimeters below the top edge.
Use alternative building materials
The possibilities for building materials are endless. For example, you can buy ready-made kits if you want to do a DIY project like this. Additionally, a ready-made kit available at hardware and garden supply stores may be right for you. You can find versions made of composite material to prevent rot andResist insects. They also fade better over time than natural wood.
You can also weave a frame with long, flexible sticks. Your kids are sure to have fun collecting the branches for your raised bed, with the results usually being Pinterest-worthy.
Tree trunks are also a practical option. If you have recently cut down a tree, logs can be an inexpensive material. However, choose the pieces that are straight and at least 30 cm in diameter. Another alternative if you want to build and plant raised beds yourself are concrete blocks or stone.
Placing the blocks with open ends facing up provides additional growing room. You can use herbs or herbs as suitable plantsdecorative flowerschoose for the cavities. A waist-high garden bed would also be more accessible for people with physical limitations.
Tips for creating after you build your raised beds yourself
Locate your garden beds in a location that receives at least five to six hours of sunlight each day. Orient them north to south to prevent plants from shading each other. The width should also be at least 30 cm, but not more than 120 cm, to make weeding and harvesting manageable. A length of 180 to 240 cm is typical and cost-effective. 25 to 40 cm is an ideal height to accommodate strong roots.
Leave at least 60 or 80 cm between raised beds for walking and wheelbarrow access. If your garden bed is low to the ground, be aware of critters. To keep these out, consider installing a wire fence to ensure rabbits and other small intruders stay out. If there are deer in your area, plastic netting (at least 8 feet high) is a good solution.
Fill your beds with a mixture of 50 to 60% good topsoil and 40 to 50% well-aged compost. Test your soil for pH and nutrient content before each new growing season. You can find the supplies you need at most hardware stores. If your test shows a need for additional nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium, increase the levels by incorporating supplements such as bone meal and seaweed. Dress your raised beds with additional compost later in the growing season to increase organic matter and improve soil health.
Watering the plants in the raised bed
If you build your beds in mid-summer, it's not too late to plant fall crops. Sow seeds like carrots and lettuce directly into the ground or purchase mid-season transplants for crops like kale and broccoli. If you'd rather wait until next year to plant, cover the soil in your new raised beds in the fall with a mixture of grass clippings and shredded leaves. The material will compost before you can start in the spring.
Raised beds have fantastic drainage, which is great for plant health, but they dry out quickly. Water your plants in the early evening, but check the plants more often on hot summer afternoons. If the soil is dry, it is hot outside, or you live in a dry climate, you should water the plants in the bed repeatedly. A programmable drip irrigation system is also usually inexpensive and convenient. It delivers even moisture directly to the plant roots. However, also invest in a timer as a component to save money and water.
