Are you planning to get a raised bed garden installed or built? Raised beds can work with any
place which has 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. They can also be of any size that you wish. In
this article, the discussion will be about the standard rectangular raised beds built from rot-
resistant and treated wood or concrete blocks.
Before you start preparing your raised bed or ordering them, here are a few things you should
consider:
The size of the bed
Raised beds or above ground gardening boxes are generally 3 to 4 feet wide with about 6 to 8
feet in length. This size is preferred because it easily allows a person to reach into the bed to dig,
weed and plant without stepping on the garden. The height is also important. If the raised bed is
on a hard surface like hard-packed soil or a driveway, you must make sure that the mattress has
enough length so that the plants can reach down and get the nutrients they need. This is crucial
for root vegetables like carrots and beet.
If underneath your raised bed, you have natural soil, then the vegetables can extend their roots
into the natural soil and get nutrients. In case you have concrete underneath the garden bed, it is
recommended that you get a garden bed that has a depth of at least 10 to 12 inches so that the
plants can grow easily.
Picking the perfect spot
Location is everything, but it does not necessarily have to be your backyard. Make sure you put
your raised garden bed at a place where plenty of sunlight is available regularly.
How to get rid of the grass?
This is a common concern amongst a lot of gardeners. It’s an enormous task to cut out and lift
the sod. Instead, an easier method is to cover the grass itself with a layer of cardboard and cover
the cardboard with soil. The grass will break down, and you will get new soil for your plants.
Irrigation option or not?
You can have a drip irrigation system set up with a line that runs from your rain barrel or tap. If
you want to do this, it is advised that this is done before the raised beds are finished and set up.
Quantity of soil needed
You can use soil calculators to find out how much soil you will need. It is best if you buy soil in
bulk. Ensure that the best soil for raised garden bed has 30% organic compost and 70% topsoil.
You can also dress the soil with organic vegetable compost.
Staking the sides
It is a wise idea to install midpoint stakes in the garden bed. Having these in place will prevent
the soil from shifting as time passes.
Keep these tips in mind when you design or build your wrist garden beds.
The size of the bed
Raised beds or above ground gardening boxes are generally 3 to 4 feet wide with about 6 to 8
feet in length. This size is preferred because it easily allows a person to reach into the bed to dig,
weed and plant without stepping on the garden. The height is also important. If the raised bed is
on a hard surface like hard-packed soil or a driveway, you must make sure that the mattress has
enough length so that the plants can reach down and get the nutrients they need. This is crucial
for root vegetables like carrots and beet.
If underneath your raised bed, you have natural soil, then the vegetables can extend their roots
into the natural soil and get nutrients. In case you have concrete underneath the garden bed, it is
recommended that you get a garden bed that has a depth of at least 10 to 12 inches so that the
plants can grow easily.
