How to Make a Raised Garden Bed | What are Raised Beds |

Raised bedsare planter boxes made from wood, stone or concrete, in a rectangular or curved shape. Its an enclosed arrangement filled with soil rich in organic matter for growing vegetables, fruits, and flowering plants. Let’s discuss What are Raised Beds and how you can make one or many in your garden!

The soil for raised beds should be well-draining but also have some water-retaining capacity. Loamy soil with a proper mix of sand & clay that is rich in organic matter like peat moss, compost, ground bark or sawdust is good for this purpose. You can also take one-fourth sand, one-fourth topsoil, one-fourth peat moss or coco peat, and one-fourth compost or manure. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly before use.

Select a spot that is leveled and receives at least 6-7 hours of sunlight, as most vegetables require full sun. If sunlight is scarce in your yard, you can grow vegetables that can grow in shades–Root vegetables and greens are good for this purpose.

Keep the width at 4-5 feet, and avoid making it any bigger otherwise, weeding, mulching, and harvesting will become difficult. The length can vary from 8-12 feet, while the depth should be 6-12 inches, as more than that will ask for more soil, hence will increase cost and labor.

Note: You can build an 18-24 inches wide path between two ends for better management. Also, you can keep the height of raised beds till waist if you have a back problem. 

For making the bed, you can choose redwood or black locust that survive up to 20 years and are rot-resistant as well. Cedar is another rot-resistant wood, which serves up to 10-15 years. Teakwood is also an option. You can also opt for douglas fir or hemlock, having a lifespan of 5-7 years. They are also inexpensive and affordable.

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