![]() ![]() ![]() To gain the maximum benefit from raised beds the soil needs to be a rich mixture of soil and composts from different sources. Once the beds are built, it’s time to fill them with soil. For example, 2 inch thick larch should last for at least 10 years, even without treatment. Choose thicker boards which will take longer to rot.They are more expensive to buy but they will last for many more years before they need replacing. Hardwood is usually longer-lived than softwood, but cedar and larch contain natural oils which prevent rotting and make them much more durable. Many people have reservations about using it however, and there are various eco-alternatives available to treat wood which are derived from natural products. Pressure-treated wood has a mixture of chemicals applied to prevent the moist soil and weather rotting it. To ensure that the wood lasts for as long as possible, there are a few options: If you decide to build the beds yourself, it’s important to remember that wood rots. You can also buy recycled plastic beds or boxes on stilts which require less bending or enable wheelchair access. Raised bed kits have the advantage of being easy to construct and the wood is often pre-treated to prevent rotting. The next decision is whether to buy a raised bed kit, or build it yourself. ![]() Because you need to construct them from wood or other materials and then fill them with compost, they’re more expensive to begin with than a traditional vegetable garden.Īnother issue, particularly if you live in a dry climate, is that due to the increased drainage they often need more watering during hot weather than ground-level plants, so you may need to install a permanent irrigation system to make this easier. This all sounds great, but there are some disadvantages to raised beds too. With fewer gaps between plants, there’ll be less room for weeds too, which reduces the amount of time you have to spend maintaining them. It’s usually sufficient to build them 6 inches (15cm) high, although up to 12 inches (30cm) is used for root crops.īy filling raised beds with multipurpose bagged compost, sometimes mixed with homemade compost, plants can get the nutrients and moisture they require at closer spacing than traditional row-based planting. If you are building them against a fence or wall, you’ll probably want to limit the width to 2 or 3 feet (60-90cm) since you can only access them from one side. 4 feet (1.2 m) is usually the maximum width. ![]() Raised beds should always be narrow enough to enable you to reach into the middle for weeding and harvesting without stepping onto the soil. It’s also a good way to encourage young children to join in with the gardening without stepping on precious plants. Building raised beds is an easy way to do this as it provides a clear physical divide between the growing area and the paths between them. This can be especially problematic on heavy clay, but all soils do much better if beds and paths are clearly separated. Walking on soil squashes it down, removing the essential air pockets in the soil structure, which can make it difficult for plant roots to grow through and prevents the free drainage of water. With a raised bed you can add your own soil and compost, which gives a great weed-free start to your garden. It doesn’t matter what your existing soil is like, or even if you have soil underneath them. Raised beds enable you to grow almost anywhere. ![]()
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