How to Build a Raised Vegetable Garden Bed
Raised vegetable garden beds are a great choice for those with minimal yard space for planting. Although building a raised garden bed does require time and hard work, growing your own vegetables is a rewarding experience for novice and advanced gardeners.
Items needed:
- Tape measure
- Bed material
- Mortar or concrete
- Small pebbles
- Top soil
- Compost
- Shovel
- Plants
- Mulch
Instructions:
- Select a place for the raised bed. Choose a location that receives an adequate amount of sunlight, at least six hours per day.
- Measure the area using a tape measure to determine the size of the bed. Find an appropriate height for the bed by examining the soil. If your current soil is unusable, the height will need to be higher to accommodate additional soil. Areas with good soil can use a bed with a lower height as the current soil can be mixed with new topsoil. The soil needs to be at least 12 inches in depth.
- Choose materials for the bed. A number of materials can be used to create a bed, including wood, rocks, bricks and metal edging.
- Build the walls or surround for the bed. The method for building the wall is largely determined by the type of bed material you choose. Materials can be stacked to create the surround, but make sure the bed is secure. If the wall or surround will measure over 2 feet in height, use mortar or concrete between bricks or stone.
- Fill the bed with soil. Add small pebbles to the bottom of the bed to assist with drainage. Incorporate a rich organic mixture of topsoil and compost. If the soil underneath the bed is appropriate for planting, mix this soil with the new soil using a shovel.
- Plant the vegetables. Follow the manufacturer's directions for spacing, and add mulch around the plants to help retain moisture. Water your new bed thoroughly.