Raised garden flower Beds for Vegetables and Herbs

A raised garden bed adds an easy-to-care-for focal point to the garden. The beds can be simple or spartan, or even elegant and ornamental.

Set up a sturdy board across the span and use your level to test for an evenness from one end to the other. Make adjustments as required.

Put stakes in the ground along the long sides of the frame, spacing them around 18 inches apart.

Size

If you want to grow more herbs and vegetables in a smaller space raised garden beds are the solution. They are less labor-intensive than in-ground gardens, particularly for those who have back issues or other physical limitations. You can construct your own raised beds or buy a prefabricated kit from garden centers or home improvement stores. A few of these kits feature wooden frames that are an elegant and simple addition to your yard or patio. Some kits feature composite materials that are resistant to rot and insects and require only minimal maintenance.

Determine the size of your raised bed by looking at the space available and your requirements. For instance, if are planning to plant root crops such as carrots and potatoes it is necessary to dig deeper than the plants that are shallowly rooted. It is important to plan the depth between 12 and 24 inches.

It is also important to take into consideration the size of the raised beds. It is necessary to have enough space to work in the middle of the bed, without getting in the way of plants. For this reason, raised beds shouldn't be more than 4 feet in width. It will be difficult to reach the middle of the raised bed to plant, weed or raised garden harvest.

Once you've decided on the dimensions of your bed, you can start gardening building. Mark the two new boards for drilling by aligning them to an angle of framing. Then remove the boards and drill holes in the locations you marked. Attach the new boards using washers and hex screws, nuts and washers. Repeat this process for each of the boards remaining until the frame is complete.

If you're planning to plant your garden in an area that receives lots of runoff from water, it could be necessary to include an approach to divert the water away from your garden, or find a different place to plant. The water that collects in a garden will seep into the soil over time and drown the roots, even if raised beds raise the soil above the surface.

Some people line raised garden beds with a liner to help insulate the soil, keep weeds out, and keep pests like snails and rabbits away. If you decide to do this, make sure to use a liner that is safe for contact with food items.

Materials

The materials used to construct raised garden beds are an important aspect to consider. If you intend to plant edible plants, choose an item that is resistant to pests and rot. Take into consideration how the wood was treated and whether it contains chemicals that could leach out to the soil. A lot of older pressure-treated woods were preserved using chromium copper acetate (CCA) which is a chemical that contains arsenic. Because CCA can leach into soil and pollute plants, this type of lumber is not considered to be safe for use in gardening. According to the Oregon State University Extension, newer pressure-treated lumber is usually preserved using Borates or ACQ (alkaline copper quatternary), both of these are safe for gardening.

Wood pallets can also be used to construct raised gardens. However, avoid pallets stamped with the letter "MB" as this is methylbromide, a pesticide that can be used for a variety of uses and is able to contaminate water and soil. It is also a substance that reduces ozone levels which is harmful to the environment and the health of humans.

Redwood and cedar are rot-resistant hardwoods that can be used to construct raised beds, however they are also more expensive than other kinds of lumber. If you are on an extremely tight budget, you can opt for pressure-treated wood but line the interior of the raised beds with heavy plastic. This will stop the release into the soil of the chemicals used to protect the wood.

Other options for creating raised garden beds include concrete blocks, cinder block and bricks. However, no research has been conducted regarding the safety of these materials for the cultivation of vegetables.

Consider enclosing your gardens with a tall fence when you live in a region susceptible to rabbits, deer, or other burrowing foraging animals. These animals can destroy a raised bed in minutes. You can use 3 foot tall corner posts that are covered with chicken wire or a door to create a secure enclosure. If you decide to surround the beds, keep in mind that they should be left open enough that pollinators, such as birds, can access their plants to eat seeds and nectar. Apply a layer of 1/2'' or a 1/4'' of hardware cloth to cover the bottom of your bed prior adding soil. This will prevent burrowing creatures.

Drainage

The majority of vegetables and herbs require plenty of sunlight and soil that drains well. If you are using raised beds for your garden, be certain to choose a place with at least eight hours of sun a day. If you live in a shady area, choose shade-loving veggies and herbs like parsley, the chives, and arugula.

When you build your raised beds, fill them up with topsoil of high-quality, free-draining quality. Avoid using treated wood with chemicals that will leach into your soil. Consider using cardboard or newspaper to line your raised bed. This will help insulate the soil, deter pests and also help prevent weeds. To reduce time spent in the garden plan, make sure to keep your beds weed-free if don't line them.

Hugelkultur is a second method to improve drainage for your raised garden (click here.) beds. This method involves creating a mound inside the beds of organic waste to boost the activity of microbes and improve soil quality. The best materials to use are large decaying branches, sticks grass clippings and coffee grounds. The material will decompose and make an abundant compost that can be added to beds.

Adding cover crops which are annual plants that are grown to improve the soil's health and help with drainage issues in raised beds. Clover is an excellent option for this due to its deep tap roots that break up compacted soil and add nutrients. Rye, Buckwheat, and Fava beans are also alternatives.

If you want to add some extra drainage enhancement to your raised garden beds think about using rock minerals like gypsum and limestone. These minerals balance the soil's pH, which, in turn, boosts nutrient uptake and enhances retention of water.

One of the most serious problems that can destroy a raised bed garden is too much moisture, so it's important to learn how to test for this. When you water your garden with a level, see whether the soil is evenly moist on the surface of the bed. If not, then water the bed less frequently until it is.

Planting

There are a variety of options for lining raised gardens, including cardboard, newspapers, mulch and wood scraps, compost, shredded leaves or grass clippings concrete, and many other materials. The best lining material depends on what the bed will be being used for and what the conditions for growing are in your region. For instance, if you are growing vegetables that require a lot of water and a sloppy, sandy soil, then you might want to use gravel or crushed rock as the bottom layer. This will allow for good drainage and will keep the soil from sinking too fast.

A layer of organic mulch can also help keep the soil cool, control weeds and maintain proper temperature of the soil. It also increases soil fertility by the roots of plants being able to break down organic material and integrate it into the soil. It is advised that the mulch is applied after the soil has been planted to minimize the number of weeds that will grow.

Because the planting area is much smaller in raised beds, the plants are typically planted extensively. This keeps the amount of weeds to a minimum, and allows the crops to grow with less watering. Additionally, the denseness of plantings means that any weeds that do crop up will be competing for limited space and nutrients, instead of for sun and water.

If the garden bed is situated in an area susceptible to moles or other burrowing pests, it is recommended that you line the entire bottom of the bed with a piece of 1/2'' hardware cloth prior to adding any soil. This can be stapled on the bottom of the frame or, in some cases, buried deeper into the ground.

Installing a "spannerboard" is also recommended. It is a small board that is longer than the bed's height. It can be used as a seat or to place buckets of water and other gardening secrets tools while weeding, or to tend the crops. A weed barrier, like a layer of heavy plastic sheeting, can be added to the top of the raised garden beds in order to minimize the need for herbicide.