How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Garden

How to make a Raised Garden
By Brenda Diaz
 

Plan your Garden

Step 1– Find an area in your yard  that gets periods of sun throughout the day. The basic shape for a raised garden is a rectangle, as you see in the photo at the top.  These are so simple to make too, just think of a big box.. There are many designs you can have, it depends on how creative you want to be.

Step 2-  Draw your design, measure your available space, and then add those measurements to the design that you drew up.  This will determine the amount of materials that you will need to buy.

Tip:   Depending on how much you want to plant, you will have to judge on the length and width that you will need,  use twine to make your border, and make sure your measurements are accurate.

Step 3-   Drive to your local hardware store to get materials. Menards is wonderful !. If you want to go with the basic design of a rectangle, you will need a total of  four sides, two of the same length, and two of another length, if you want to go with a square design, you will need four sides all of the same length, and so on.

Materials Needed: ( Basic Rectangle Design).

1. Four,  4 foot , AC2 landscape boards, this  will give you about 6"  in height when stacked, you can always buy more boards to have a deeper garden bed.

2. Four, 8 foot, AC2 landscape boards.

3. 4 inch Deck Screws, or 4 inch nails.

4. Hammer or screw gun.

5. A rake and shovel.

6. Dirt, ( Get in touch with your local landfill, they have whats called black dirt that is high in nutrients naturally, and it is more cost effective!.  Normal options are by the truck bed full, which is cheaper than only filling 5 gallon buckets. You can also use dirt from your own yard as well.

7. Fertilizer of any kind, personal choice of mine is Miracle Grow.

Tip:  To minimize weeds, a barrier is reccomended, another cost effective tool,  is old newspaper.

Put it together

Connect your sides together, when you have finished with that step, layer with newspaper. There are other options for a barrier as well, such as Gardening Plastic, or a Weed Mat,  but Newspaper is "Free".  Finally the last  few steps are  to simply fill your bed and start planting whatever your heart desires!.

Tips:     Do not over water your plants, a fine mist for the first few weeks is sufficient until they get established.  Also continue to use fertilizer, or any form of plant food from your local hardware store. Be sure to follow the guidelines on the back of the package.  .