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Once you’ve made the decision to build a raised bed garden, there are a couple of decisions that you need to make. What material will you use, what size do you want your bed to be, what kind of plants do you want to plant, and where do you want to locate your raised bed? These are all decisions that you need to make. Wood is generally the most popular material for a raised bed. It has a natural attractive look, offers good drainage and can be tailored to whatever size you want your bed to be. As for size, a good rule of thumb for the design of a raised bed garden is that it should you should make sure that it is easy to access all of your plants – don’t build a bed that is wider than four feet or else you won’t be able to access everything without reaching, and if you are only building three sides and using an existing wall for your forth side, don’t go wider than three feet. The plants that you want to plant will have a lot to do with your decision about where to put the beds, because different plants require different amounts of sun. A sunny spot will generally offer you the most options for plants and is always good for vegetables, herbs and flowers. You will also be making your life easier if you choose a spot that is already flat – otherwise you are going to have to either dig an area out, or build it up so that it is level. Start by marking out the outline of where you want your bed to go, then dig a trench down for your raised bed’s side walls. It is a good idea to rake up the soil under where your raised bed will be, unless it is very soggy – in that case you would be well advised to put down stones or gravel to provide healthy drainage for your plants. You should also put down some kind of protection against animals that burrow, such as moles; some netting will do the trick. Fill the bed with at least six inches worth of a healthy mixture of soil and compost – twelve inches is probably best. You can make your raised bed as complex or as simple as you like – some people add irrigation systems, or materials to provide a greenhouse effect to extend the growing season both earlier and later, but it is really not necessary. All you need are walls, good drainage, and good soil, and you’re ready to plant! Expert advice on organic raised bed gardening from how to create a raised bed garden to how to maintain them. Visit us at http://www.organicraisedbedgardening.com/ to learn more.
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