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A raised garden bed is a freestanding structure - typically a box or frame - filled with nutrient-rich soil and used for growing any type of plant. The bed usually sits in a direct sunny spot and has drainage holes in the bottom. They are an excellent way of introducing different soils to your garden and improve drainage in a way you wouldn’t be able to directly in the ground.
Building raised beds for your garden can be easy if you follow the correct instructions. Here’s how to build your own to ensure healthy plants for years to come.
Pick your location
Your bed needs to sit in a place on level ground which sees at least six hours of sunlight per day. Also use a dry surface, which is much better for draining.
Choose your material
Firstly, decide on the size of the bed then choose which type of wood you’d like to use. Your wood can be treated or tanalised to prevent rot, which is better for your plants but detrimental to the environment. Alternatively, you can use more expensive durable wood or an inexpensive thick option. Cedar is a very good long-term choice.
Form your structure
Next, form the box. Move your wood over to the desired surface and clear of any debris. Make sure your pre-cut planks are a maximum of 1.2 metres long. You’ll need your bed to not be too deep, to ensure you can comfortably access the box without stepping on the soil. Build at least 18 inches of depth to give your roots plenty of space to grow downwards.
First, you’ll need to join the planks together. You can do this in two ways. Either align the two planks at the end and affix an inside corner post. Alternatively, attach one plank a couple of inches in from the end to form a natural corner. The corner needs to be tight with no gaps.
For the first option, screw a nail into the corner post from each plank of wood. For the second, screw the two planks together.
Fill your beds
Now for the important part. Cut holes into the sides of the beds for drainage then choose premium nutrient-rich compost and soil to fill. If you don’t have an all-in-one compost, mix 40% of compost with 40% of topsoil and 20% aeration.
Once filled, leaving a few inches at the top, dig and mix the filling to make sure there are no clumps.
Once finished, leave the compost for a couple of weeks to allow it to settle.
Grow!
Finally, it’s time to grow your plants!
Vegetables such as aubergine, sweet potato, pumpkins and tomatoes will require at least 18 inches to give their roots enough time to develop.
Lavender, cucumber, garlic, carrots and cauliflowers require at least 12 inches. Only six inches is required for everyday herbs (such as mint, oregano and basil), strawberries and salad greens.
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