If you’ve got a newfound green thumb, you’re probably eager to grab your spade and head outside at the first sign of spring. However, many new gardeners quickly discover that not all homes come with a backyard primed for gardening. When you have the space but not the soil for optimal growth, you may feel the dream of growing your own food fading away.
Don’t give up on your gardening aspirations yet! A raised garden bed can be the perfect solution to transform your backyard. In fact, a DIY raised garden bed makes it easy to grow all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Whether you’re teaching your kids where their food comes from, developing a new hobby, or trying to decrease your grocery bills, building a raised garden box is your next step. Here’s how to create your own raised beds.
What Is a Raised Garden Bed?
Trying to grow fruits and vegetables in your backyard’s compact soil can be challenging for any gardener. Plus, for new gardeners, the backbreaking work of weeding, digging, fertilizing, and managing bugs can become overwhelming.
While building raised beds may take more time initially, it can make gardening easier in the long run. Raised beds can keep bugs away, improve drainage, and reduce weeds. Plus, they can help you grow a better harvest, too!
Raised garden beds are elevated, fully contained boxes with a built-in drainage solution. Many raised beds can be crafted from wood, but you can also buy pre-made raised boxes or make boxes from other materials.
Ready to start building your beds? Let’s jump in.
How to Build Raised Garden Beds
Building your own raised garden beds can make gardening fun for the whole family! The first step to building your beds is to create a plan. There are many bed styles to choose from, so check out some different raised garden bed plans for ideas to get you started.
Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to build your beds! Beyond the building materials you’ve chosen for your bed, you also need to think about drainage. Adding a garden bed liner and a plywood base with drilled drainage holes is a great start, but you can also add an irrigation system to keep your beds watered.
Choose a location for your new garden bed and set up the square or rectangular perimeter. Set up your rot-resistant wood walls and drill any holes necessary for your drainage system. Once your drainage holes are in place, screw together your wooden boards to create your box.
Next, you can add your plywood base to drain into the ground below and wrap the bed liner along the inside of your bed. If you’ve developed a more involved irrigation system, install that before adding soil.
Then, add in your soil and you’re ready to begin planting!
One of the benefits of using raised beds is your complete control over your soil quality. Filling your beds with new, high-quality soil and soil amendments produces better crops, while good drainage ensures that your plants’ roots don’t drown. This can also keep your soil loose and easy to work with.
Ready to Start Gardening?
Once your beds are in place, you’re ready to jump in and begin growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs! But what seeds should you start with?
Our beginning garden kits are just what you need to get started. We’re happy to help you find the best kit for your new raised garden bed. Shop now and find the right garden kit for you today!
