![]() This is a good practice for both soil and plants. Instead of digging up a compacted bed year after year, many gardeners add compost and other soil amendments to the top of their elevated beds in fall, then let nature do the rest over the dormant season. Raised garden beds require less tilling than traditional, in-ground beds. There are a lot of great reasons to build raised beds that contain and protect your garden soil. So why should you bother assembling or building a raised bed garden? Benefits of raised bed gardening There are also do-it-yourself options if you have the time or the inclination. Whether you’re handy with tools or don’t know a drill press from a driver, there are kits on the market that are easy to build with little time or expense. But not all raised bed systems are the same. Unfortunately some raised bed systems are costly to buy and time consuming to install. Not only do they look stunning in a backyard garden, they also ease the workload that comes with maintaining traditional, in-ground beds. You can find decorative corner brackets to dress up your raised garden bed, or some that allow you to eliminate the corner post and simply fit your side wall boards into the corner bracket for quick and easy construction.There’s no question that raised beds are popular for a reason. deck screws to reinforce the corner seams and keep them from popping open or developing a crack where soil can escape. If you want an even sturdier wood raised garden bed, consider fastening metal corner brackets to each corner with 3-in. Now you’re ready to plant! Reinforce the corners Soil may settle the first season, so water it in thoroughly and give it a couple weeks before planting if you can, then top off if you need to. Use your own compost, well-aged manure, bagged compost, or bulk compost from a reliable source. Next, fill the box with a mix of half regular topsoil and half compost. Now that your bed frame is in place, repeat step 3 two more times, stacking the 2×8s vertically. Next, attach the two ends with the 6-ft.-long 2×8s.deck screws to the sides of two of the 4×4 posts. Build the frame by attaching a 4-ft.-long 2×8 piece of lumber with 3-in.It’s easiest to simply set your anchor posts on top of the soil with the frame sinking them in the ground isn’t necessary. Start with four 4×4 posts cut to the desired height of your raised bed. Leveling the ground first makes it easier to build your raised bed and keeps it in good shape longer because there’s less stress on the wood. Step 1. Find the right spot for your garden bedĭecide placement of your raised bed and mark with marking spray or a line of flour or sand. Reference the exploded view illustration above and follow the simple steps outlined below to create a simple garden bed out of wood that you can easily customize to fit your needs. How to Grow Vegetables in a Galvanized Riased Garden Bed Wood side walls need to "breathe" to be able to dry and keep from rotting. Also, don't paint just the outside walls or the wood will take up water and have no way to dry out. Water sealants and latex paints are also okay to use, but be sure to research what chemicals are used in them to be sure they are safe for edibles. To help your wood raised bed have a longer life in th garden, apply a coating of raw linseed oil or tung oil to the inside bed walls to help water-proof untreated wood. Line the inside of your wood raised bed with plastic if you’re concerned. Pressure-treated wood has about twice the lifespan but some research suggests the chemicals may not be safe for vegetables. ![]() Untreated wood may last five years or so, depending on your climate. A FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification indicates a sustainable choice. Try to use sustainably sourced, local or regionally produced woods to be more ecologically friendly. Treated lumber is OK if using for flowers or ornamental plants. Make sure to use untreated lumber if you are building the raised bed for vegetables. (4) 4×4 posts cut to the desired height of your garden bed (Here we have used 21 in.Keep in mind that the lengths of boards can be adjusted based on your desired bed size. long, 2-ft.-tall raised bed: Materials for a wood raised garden bed: Untreated cedar, fir, and pine are common choices for wood raised beds. A wooden raised bed is a classic choice in the garden, relatively inexpensive, and easy to get started with.
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