Raised garden beds provide a multi solution strategy for the home garden.
We can use them for our vegetable patch, to deal with drainage problems, to solve a difficult soil issue.
They also can be used for making an elegant design or interest focus in a garden.
While cedar is an excellent option for making raised garden beds, it can be quite expensive and not fit the budget – especially if you have a lot to do.
But, there are alternative materials and you can keep cedar for a special place if you care to.
On source of wood is to go to a company that does recycling and see what hardwoods are available. Also, look for native hardwoods as they will be less expensive than imported hardwoods.
It probably is practical to limit the height to about 18 inches, but higher is Ok – but it will pay to reinforce the planks with stakes so that the soil doesn’t push outwards and topple your raised bed. Avoid using wood treated with chemicals.
Another alternative is to use bricks or cement blocks – but you will have to ensure that the cement doesn’t leach into your soil. A cement sealer will solve that. Again, these items can be found at recycling companies.
Solar Gardening
“American intensive” gardening is what the authors call a continuous food-producing system that provides an ideal growing environment for the entire plant. By creating and maintaining a deep, well-balanced, fertile soil, the system optimizes growing conditions below the ground. By using heat-assisting devices to create beneficial microclimates for seedlings and mature plants, it ensures optimum growing conditions above the ground.
Decorative stones such as slate or even old rocks.
Benefits of Raised Garden Beds
Better drainage, soil control and less compaction, no bad backs!
In a vegetable patch, raised garden beds are easier to work – keeping weeds controlled, tidier, less bending.
In an ornamental garden (flowers etc) they can add a touch of elegance and interest to the yard.
You can create a ‘terrace’ style – e.g. a 3 stepped garden bed. In the back layer (highest) you can plant taller annuals or even perennials – and then medium sizes in the middle layer and at the bottom (slightly raised above ground level) you can plant low growing annual
Some plant suggestions
top level
Hollyhocks, lackspurs, foxgloves, cosmos, stocks
Middle level
- Snapdragons
- Phlox
- Petunias
- Primulas
- Salvia
Lowest level
- Lobelia
- nemesia
- prostrate petunias
Scatter among them all your bulbs – daffodils, hyacinths, tulips – and also grow trailing plants that hang down to the next layer.
These are only starter ideas – let your imagination run with them and add your own favorites