All you need to know about raised beds!

Organic food is becoming more and more popular, but instead of buying, why not grow?

Raised beds are a great way to create your own plot, whether it be for plants, fruits or vegetables. They provide good drainage for the soil, you have better weed control, and the creepy crawlies can be deterred!

It’s a great child friendly project too – showing them the importance of nature as well as letting them get a little muddy – which we all know kids love!

So, you’re probably thinking ‘where do I start?’ - Well we’ve collated a few pointers below which will hopefully get your raised bed project off to a cracking start!

What materials shall I use?

Raised beds can be made out of a number of materials - wood, stone or even cinderblocks, but if you’re looking to keep costs down then we would suggest using wood.

Sleepers can make a great addition to your garden and are perfect for raised beds – be it solid oak or tanatone. We would recommend staying away from reclaimed sleepers if you’re using the bed for growing edibles due to the toxins that have been used to preserve the wood, however we have a full selection of suitable sleepers or other treated woods that you can choose from – just depends on your budget and the overall look you want to achieve from your garden.

Sleepers can be held together by using galvanised steel screws and bolts and you can line your bed with geotextile fabric to protect their longevity.

How big do I want my bed?

Although the length can be whatever you desire, the width should be a minimum of 4ft. This will still allow you to have enough access to weed, water and harvest your vegetables or fruit from both sides, without ruining your hard work!

The height really depends on what you’re looking at planting. The ideal height is 1 – 2ft and you can go taller, but do remember that you will need a considerable amount of soil to fill a 3ft high bed.

And remember - the bonus of making it yourself is that you can create it to help you, so if you don’t want to be bent over all the time, you can create the bed a little taller!

What do I fill my bed with?

Once you’ve dug out the bottom of your area put a layer of gravel, which will help with your drainage, especially if you’re bed is in a damp or boggy area. Then once your sides have been fixed into place we would recommend using compost or soil, rather than the dirt from the garden, this will ensure your plants or fruit and veg have the best possible start in life!

Raised beds are a great way to grow organically, as well as giving your garden an extra boost in the looks department! Keeping it compact, means it is more manageable, and less likely to turn your garden into a jungle!

If you need a little more inspiration, then Home Garden Ideas have showcased some great ideas of different ways you can do your raised bed…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzOiVv_8Za8

We’d love to see your raised beds – so please send us your pictures and we’ll share them on social media!