Better Soil and Better
Drainage Raised beds are great for gardeners who have poor soil (rocky, clay or sandy). By building beds above your soil surface and filling them with higher quality soil, you’re giving your vegetables a better environment to thrive and produce.
While you don’t have to construct raised beds if you have decent soil, vegetables — particularly root veggies like carrots — tend to like the deep soil that is found in raised beds. Any bed that is raised above the ground surface is “raised," whether it’s 6” or 2’ high. Raised beds provide an environment with good drainage for vegetables. The better quality, deeper soil allows water to be absorbed without staying soggy.
Drainage Raised beds are great for gardeners who have poor soil (rocky, clay or sandy). By building beds above your soil surface and filling them with higher quality soil, you’re giving your vegetables a better environment to thrive and produce.
While you don’t have to construct raised beds if you have decent soil, vegetables — particularly root veggies like carrots — tend to like the deep soil that is found in raised beds. Any bed that is raised above the ground surface is “raised," whether it’s 6” or 2’ high. Raised beds provide an environment with good drainage for vegetables. The better quality, deeper soil allows water to be absorbed without staying soggy.
Choose your construction material
Raised beds can be built out of wood (2 x 4 or 2 x 6, landscape timbers), mortared stone, cinderblock or even rolled steel. Wooden beds and cinderblock are the least expensive, while mortared stone can become pricey depending upon the type of stone you choose. Rolled steel will be the most expensive. Most types of construction can be good DIY projects for the handy homeowner, but the rolled steel beds will most likely need to be contracted out to a professional unless you have welding skills. Your choice of materials can also be determined by your personal aesthetics.
Raised beds can be built out of wood (2 x 4 or 2 x 6, landscape timbers), mortared stone, cinderblock or even rolled steel. Wooden beds and cinderblock are the least expensive, while mortared stone can become pricey depending upon the type of stone you choose. Rolled steel will be the most expensive. Most types of construction can be good DIY projects for the handy homeowner, but the rolled steel beds will most likely need to be contracted out to a professional unless you have welding skills. Your choice of materials can also be determined by your personal aesthetics.
Choose a sunny, fairly level site
Most vegetables like as much sun as you can give them, at least 6-8 hours a day, so carefully choose the part of your yard that gets the most sun. And while you can construct raised beds on a slope, it's easier and less expensive if you can find a part of your yard that is somewhat level. Sloping yards will need to have beds created in a retaining wall fashion, stepping down into tiers to create level individual beds.
Most vegetables like as much sun as you can give them, at least 6-8 hours a day, so carefully choose the part of your yard that gets the most sun. And while you can construct raised beds on a slope, it's easier and less expensive if you can find a part of your yard that is somewhat level. Sloping yards will need to have beds created in a retaining wall fashion, stepping down into tiers to create level individual beds.
Determine your bed size
Raised beds are the most functional when constructed in 4' widths, at whatever length you desire (6', 8', 10' or longer). This 4' width allows you to easily weed, water and harvest your vegetable garden from both sides without having to step into the bed itself, which would compact the soil. The height of your bed depends upon your needs. If you simply want a great growing environment for your veggies, then 6" to 1' will be sufficient. However, if you have mobility issues, then 18" to 24" or even 32" will be better. This increased height will allow you sit on the edge of your bed (particularly if it's constructed out of wood or mortared rock) while you work in your garden, eliminating the need to bend and squat. The taller your bed, the more materials you will need and the more expensive it will get, so plan accordingly and be willing to construct one bed at a time as your budget allows.
Raised beds are the most functional when constructed in 4' widths, at whatever length you desire (6', 8', 10' or longer). This 4' width allows you to easily weed, water and harvest your vegetable garden from both sides without having to step into the bed itself, which would compact the soil. The height of your bed depends upon your needs. If you simply want a great growing environment for your veggies, then 6" to 1' will be sufficient. However, if you have mobility issues, then 18" to 24" or even 32" will be better. This increased height will allow you sit on the edge of your bed (particularly if it's constructed out of wood or mortared rock) while you work in your garden, eliminating the need to bend and squat. The taller your bed, the more materials you will need and the more expensive it will get, so plan accordingly and be willing to construct one bed at a time as your budget allows.