Raised beds are an excellent way to manage your vegetable garden, especially if your home is on a hilly lot. Here are a few tips if you’re considering building a raised bed garden.
- If you use wood timbers to construct a raised bed, interlock them at the corners by overlapping the timbers (log cabin style). This creates a sturdy structure to contain your soil. For a vegetable garden, don’t use timbers treated with creosote or penta.
- Build the bed long and narrow so that the middle can easily be reached from either side. This way you don’t have to actually climb into the bed for weeding or harvesting.
- If animals are a concern in your area, surround the bed with a wire or fabric fence to keep the critters from feasting on your produce. To stop burrowing animals lay chicken wire in the bottom of the box before adding soil and amendments.
- Be sure to use rich soil that includes plenty of organic matter.
Watch the video above to find out more.
Further Information
- Raised Bed Gardening (video)
- Raised Bed Gardening FAQ (article)
- Advantages of Raised Planting Beds for Your Garden (article)
- How to Make a Wood Raised Planting Bed for Your Garden (video)
