Creating a Gorgeous Raised Bed Garden
Explore the simplicity and beauty of raised bed gardens with our guide. Perfect for any gardener, these beds offer controlled environments and easy maintenance. Learn the benefits, design tips, and step-by-step instructions to create your flourishing garden. Elevate your outdoor space with joy and ease. Happy growing!
If you're looking to add a touch of beauty and functionality to your outdoor space, raised beds could be the perfect solution. Whether you're limited on space or just starting out on your flower-growing journey, raised beds offer a fantastic way to cultivate a thriving garden right at your doorstep. At PepperHarrow, we've embraced raised beds as a key part of our dahlia breeding efforts, and as an integral space for relaxing and entertaining. Today, we're going to guide you through the process of creating your very own raised bed garden.
Why Raised Beds? Raised beds offer a range of benefits and hey, let’s not overlook their beauty, making them an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned gardeners. They're particularly useful when your soil isn't ideal for flower growth, providing you with a controlled and enriched growing environment. Additionally, these beds are easier to maintain compared to open-field plantings. Weeding and tending to your plants become less of a chore, and watering is more convenient since raised beds are often closer to water sources. Keep in mind that raised beds require more frequent watering than plants in the ground.
Designing Your Garden
Before you roll up your sleeves to get to work, take the time to draw out and design your raised bed garden. Sketch out a plan on paper to plan out a space that works for you, allocating enough space between each bed to allow for 3-foot-wide paths. Staking out the corners of your garden area with wood and tying strings between the stakes can help you frame the space accurately and ensure its level.
Here are the Materials Required for the Beds We Created for our Eight 4-by-8-foot raised beds in a 30-by-40-foot area, gather the following materials for each raised bed:
(3) 2-x-12-x-8 treated lumber
(1) 4-x-4-x-4-inch treated lumber
(4) 6-x-6-inch steel corner braces
Additional Supplies:
200 feet of 6-foot or wider landscape fabric for weed barrier
100 Landscape pins to secure the fabric
160 3-inch exterior screws
48 2-cubic-foot bags of wood chips
160 1-cubic-foot bags of topsoil
500 pounds of chipped limestone road stone
Drip irrigation or overhead watering apparatus
Optional decorative arches for growing vines
Seeds of your choice!
Step-by-Step Guide for Building a Raised Garden:
Step One: Preparing the Ground
Draw your raised bed plan on paper, considering the layout and spacing.
Stake each corner of your designated area using wood and tie strings between the stakes to outline your space and ensure it's level.
Lay down landscape fabric as a weed barrier.
Step Two: Creating the Base
Spread gravel evenly across the entire area using a landscaping rake.
Prepare the lumber, using 8-foot boards for the sides and cutting an 8-foot board in half to form two 4-foot ends.
Step Three: Assembling the Bed
Use your drill and screws to secure the lumber at the corners, utilizing the 4-x-4-inch lumber as braces.
Step Four: Adding Growing Medium
Lay six bags of wood chips in the bottom half of each raised bed, smoothing them out with the landscaping rake.
Finish by adding 20 bags of topsoil to fill the beds to the top. Keep in mind that the soil will settle over time, so you may need to add more before planting.
Sparkle Details =Dream Space
The last step is to add pieces that make your raised bed garden sparkle. Items like arches for growing vines, bistro lights, table and chairs are great things to add to really make the space inviting. All of this you can use for hosting guests, or for your own personal enjoyment.
By following these steps and using the materials mentioned above, you'll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and functional raised bed garden, just like the ones at our flower farm! As you tend to your flowers and watch them thrive, you'll appreciate the benefits of raised beds, from improved growing conditions to easier maintenance.
Whether you're an aspiring gardener, dahlia breeder or simply passionate about cultivating a beautiful flower garden, raised beds provide an excellent foundation for your gardening endeavors.
Happy growing!
XX Jenn and Adam