Building Raised Beds: Gardening Basic Series #2

Ready for the second step in creating your garden?  Hopefully you have read and put some thought into the first step which is to choose your garden site.  Here is the link to that post in case you missed it.

Choosing Your Garden Site: 

 Gardening Basic Series

Raised beds allow intense planting that results in greater harvests

Reasons to use raised beds

• Gardening is easier in raised beds
• Easier to build your soil and add soil amendments and fertilizers
• Controlling weeds is easier.  Weeds levels diminish if the beds are mulched and maintained.
• A well prepared bed allows for better drainage than in ground garden
• Soil warms sooner in a raised bed allowing you to plant sooner
• Allows you to grow more in a small space
• Soil does not become compacted

Size of Raised Beds

• 4'x8'  or 3'x 8' or 3x10' are all good sizes for a raised bed.  The boxes can be any length but the width should be no wider than 4 feet. 
•  If you have back issues 3' wide is a more comfortable reach You need to be able to access the box from the sides without stepping into the box onto your soil.  We don't want to compact our soil.
• I like to use 10" or 12" high boxes.  You can build the boxes taller but you need to be able to fill the box with good soil and it will require more soil amendments; however, taller boxes are easier on the back.
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How To Build a Raised Bed

• To build one bed that is 4'x8', buy three 2x12x8's.  Two boards make up the sides and one board cut in half will provide the two ends
• Use screws to join the sides together
• Build the box away from the garden so you can prepare the site for the box

• There are fancy raised bed plans online or boxes can be purchased.  Keep in mind when your garden is mature, your plants will be the focus not the box.  I think if you have limited funds use whatever lumber you have available and put your money into building your soil.

 Preparing to Install the Raised Bed

• Be sure to think about the layout of your garden.  You will be so excited about the success of your garden box next year you will want to add more so make sure to have room to expand.
• Be sure to allow wide enough paths between the boxes to get a wheel barrow around but not so wide you spend more time weeding paths than the garden
• I like to line garden paths with a high quality weed block and cover with bark so my time is NOT spent weeding paths. This will be done after you have the raised beds in place.

Installing the raised bed

• Remove rocks and large weeds from the spot the box will go
• Rototill the ground where you are going to put the box
• If you have a broad fork which has 18 inch tines you can use that instead of a rototiller to loosen the soil.  It actually gets down deeper and doesn't not destroy soil structure.
• If you have nothing else, a shovel also works to turn the ground over and loosen the soil.  Compacted soil is an enemy to good, healthy gardens

• Only loosen or till the soil where the boxes will go.  Leave paths undisturbed or you will turn up lots of weed seeds
• After tilling or broad forking remove all rocks that turn up.  
• Level the ground and place your box on top
• Do NOT put a cover on the bottom.  Trust me you'll regret it.  It inhibits root growth and makes it hard to trap gophers.  It's better to have a gopher hole you can put a trap in than a hole down under the box that you can't get to.
• You can paint the box with a boiled linseed oil.  I have never done that.  I  just replace old beds.

Raised Bed Rule:  When you are done, do NOT walk on your beds!

Next post in this Beginning Gardening
Series will be on the soil used to fill your box.

Choosing a Garden Site: Gardening Basics Series #1

So  you want to garden?  Not sure where to begin?  This will be a series of posts with simple steps to establishing a garden.  Each post will focus on one topic and if you follow these steps you will be prepared to garden this spring.

Choosing your garden site

• Gardens do best when they get 6-8 hours of sunlight.  Late afternoon shade is fine. Visit different sites on your property at different times of the day.
• Consider a site with protection from the wind whether from natural wind breaks or a fence.
• You need easy access to water in the garden.  Plan on putting a water spigot in the garden.
• Choose a site close to your house with easy access.  Nobody likes to hike to the garden.
• Avoid micro climates... planting in a low spot where cold air sinks or where too much reflective sunlight exists from a  solid concrete fence, windows, or nearby structures
• Avoid any area with heavy clay or poor water drainage which is a sign of clay.  If water pools and drains slowly after a rain avoid these areas. 
• Pick a place where you can visually see your garden from the house and will be able to enjoy it
• Since you just might love gardening, choose an area that can be expanded.
• Consider what you want to grow.  Most crops do better in raised beds.  Raised beds make garden chores easier and gardening more rewarding.  Crops that do well plantied in field situation are corn, potatoes, melons, and pumpkins however raised beds can also be used for these crops.  Considering what you want to grow will help you determine the size of your garden.

• If deer or rabbits are a problem in your area consider a fence. Be sure to plan on a gate that is wide enough for a wheel barrow or tractor.  A 7 or 8 foot fence is needed to keep deer out with rabbit fencing 4 feet up.  This will be your biggest expense.

Ok this seems easy enough.  Your assignment or challenge is to 

• Choose a site and  review the list above to be sure you have thought of everything
• Determine the size of your garden. Most raised beds are 4x8 or 3x8, you need walking paths wide enough for a wheel barrow, a bench or work area, and consider a sitting area to enjoy the garden.  Another consideration is putting a garden shed in the garden to store supplies.
• Make a plan to get water to the site 
• Fence the garden to control the local wildlife

I would love to hear your questions and about your progress.