Having a gardening hobby seems like something not many people do or get the chance to do. With these raised garden bed plans, you can grow fresh herbs and plants right in your backyard without having to care for all that hard soil. This garden should run on as little as 12-15 inches of mulch and some basic gardening knowledge.
What is a Raised Garden Bed?
A Raised Garden Bed is a type of garden structure that is designed to provide extra gardening space in a small yard. Basically, a raised garden bed is a solid, rectangular piece of ground that is elevated on legs or posts. This allows you to grow taller plants, closer to the sun and rain, which will also promote healthy soil conditions. A raised bed can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, PVC pipe, or even plastic stacking chairs.
How to Raise a Raised Garden Bed
If you have a small yard and you want to grow vegetables, you need to build a raised garden bed. A raised garden bed is a great way to get more vegetables in your space and it’s also a great way to save money on your grocery bill. Here are 4 tips on how to build a raised garden bed:
1. Choose the right materials. You can use any type of material for your raised garden bed – ground stakes, bricks, pavers, or even timber pallets. The important thing is that the material is sturdy and will support the weight of the plants.
2. Prepare the soil. Before you build your raised garden bed, you need to prepare the soil properly. This means removing any rocks, roots, or weeds and adding tons of organic matter – compost, animal manure, etc. The goal is to create loose, friable soil that will hold water and nutrients well.
3. Build the bed frame. Once the soil is prepared, lay down the frame of your Raised Planter. Make sure that the frame is tall enough so that you can plant standing up (expect a minimum height of 18 inches).
4. Plant your seeds! Now
Some Benefits of Garden Beds
Garden beds are a great way to add green space to your smaller yard, and they can also provide a number of benefits for the plants that you grow there. Here are four of the biggest ones:
1. They Improve Damage Control. Garden beds can help you better control the areas around your plants, which can help them avoid damage from things like wind or insects.
2. They Can Help You Save Money on Plant Needs. Gardening on a small scale often means using less expensive plants, which can save you money in the long run. By growing your own vegetables and fruits, you don’t need to buy them at the grocery store and then waste space in your fridge or cabinets.
3. They Provide More Variety in Your Courtyard or Garden. If you have a small yard, installing a garden bed may give you the opportunity to grow more than one type of plant together, which provides added variety and appeal.
4. They Help Create Separated Zones for Different Types of Plants. By creating different zones in your garden bed, you can allow different types of plants to live separately without competition from each other. This can help encourage healthier plant growth overall.
The Downside to Raising Garden Beds
There are plenty of benefits to raising garden beds, but one downside is that they can be quite heavy and hard to move around. If you're looking for an easy way to add organic produce to your diet or to supplement your diet with fresh herbs and vegetables, a raised garden bed may not be the best option.
One Month of Gardening in a Raised Bed
If you love spending time outdoors, a raised bed is the perfect way to enjoy your garden. In this one-month period, I'll show you how to create a small vegetable garden in a 12x24 inch raised bed.
To create the garden, you'll need the following:
-One 12x24 inch square of terra cotta pavers or other sturdy, inert material for your raised bed
-Two 1-inch PVC pipe augers
-A PVC cutter or saw blade
-Tape measure
-Circular saw
-Sledgehammer
-Pruning shears
-Stakes or heavy-duty screws (bolts)
First, measure and mark the corners of your raised bed on the ground. Set your stakes at these marks and pound them into the ground with a sledgehammer to make sure they're firmly in place. Check out my video on how to make a raised bed for more instructions.
Next, start setting the terra cotta pavers in place around the edge of your raised bed. Make sure the pavers are level and that there are at least 2 inches.
Conclusion
A raised garden bed is a great solution for those with small yards. They allow you to grow a variety of crops in a relatively small space, and the extra compost that is generated can be used on your yard or garden grounds. If you are interested in adding a raised garden bed to your property, be sure to read our guide first so that you know what needs to be done and how much money you will need to invest.
