What Wood to Use for Raised Vegetable Beds
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Tips for how to build raised garden beds, including guidance on the all-time sizes, the best forest for raised garden beds, and how to fill them. Also information on layouts and the benefits of growing vegetables in raised beds. Includes an instructional video.
There are several ways to go near creating a vegetable garden, simply if you have challenging ground or mobility issues, raised garden beds are the all-time. That's because they create an elevated space above your existing ground and avert problems working in or on the basis. Raised garden beds are essentially boxes that you make full with a growing medium to normally grow vegetables and flowers in. They're quick to build, await smart, and are splendid for those who have trouble bending over or with their knees.
Yous tin can control the growing medium in raised garden beds since you have to make full them after you build them. That means that you get to choose what type of soil, compost, and aerating materials get into them. With that choice, yous can grow vegetables in a medium that'south better drained and more fertile than what the soil on your belongings gives you.

Last twelvemonth nosotros built 4 raised garden beds in our small-scale dorsum garden. Information technology was the best choice we could have made and they've given us incredible harvests both the first year and this. In this piece, I'll share how and why we congenital them and other information you may need to create your own.
Elevated gardening in raised garden beds
Almost of the positives of growing in raised garden beds come up down to their being elevated. Giving the soil a chip of height can assistance improve drainage, and can likewise thaw out a chip quicker in bound. Very handy if you live in a colder region. The top of raised garden beds tends to be anywhere from six inches to waist-high. When you brand a raised garden bed, the top is purely downwardly to your and your garden'due south needs. For example, if y'all're in a wheelchair or have mobility issues then a taller structure will help you to accomplish into beds. If you lot have poor soil under the raised garden beds, then you'll want to plan your beds to be deep enough to accommodate the longest roots. This tin can be upwardly to two feet for vegetables like carrots and parsnips.


Another positive thing about raised garden beds is that they help stop erosion. My dwelling garden is on a slight gradient and I know from experience at my allotment garden, that mulch and soil will erode downhill over time. Boxed sides will help keep it in, and stop erosion from happening. If you're on a slope too, yous could go the full gamut, and terrace your raised garden beds and so that they were completely level. We built mine directly on the slope though, and they've worked out just fine.

Identify raised garden beds abroad from copse
In my case, I've designed beds that are about a human foot loftier. I'thou planning on using them to mainly grow herbs and shallow-rooted leafy greens. I've as well lined their bottoms and sides with landscaping textile to assist stop roots from a nearby hedge and trees from getting in. Those roots were one of the primary reasons that I chose raised garden beds. Tree roots tend to hang out in the top 18″ of soil so the beds should be free of root invasion.
Vegetables and fruit crops volition suffer if trees rob their growing spaces. If y'all're planning to make raised garden beds, try to situate yours at a skilful distance from them. Everything from shrubs to giant redwoods will creep their way near those fertile boxes of nutrients and h2o and can suck them dry. When planning the best placement for your raised garden beds, endeavour to put them at a distance from copse that's a minimum of effectually two to 3 times the reach of the tree awning. That general rule mirrors the extent of the root system nether the basis.

Lining Raised Garden Beds
Sometimes it's very difficult to identify beds away from copse, hedges, and large shrubs. You could have a small growing space, a shared hedge, or copse that you are reluctant to take downward. You may besides have issues with moles or other subterranean mammals. In that case, y'all tin still build raised garden beds merely y'all should line the bottoms of your beds. Lining raised beds helps to exclude colonizers of both the root and animate being varieties.
The best way to line raised garden beds is with very pocket-size gauge galvanized steel mesh. It's a peachy long-term option that volition keep large roots and moles or gophers out of your beds. I've heard that craven wire doesn't concluding very long underground though and then practise opt for the more expensive galvanized steel mesh. It comes in rolls at many DIY shops.
I have hedges on three sides of my garden and some fruit trees at the back. The neighbor has a large oak tree likewise and some of its roots come up into my garden too. Instead of steel, I've opted to line my beds in landscaping fabric. It should proceed the bulk of the roots out for a good long while. It's also water-permeable and then will ensure the beds don't go waterlogged. For that reason, it'south probably not the best thought to line raised garden beds in plastic sheeting. It could turn your beds into little swamps.

The all-time placement and sizes for raised garden beds
You create raised garden beds past building a large container and filling information technology with soil, compost, and aerating materials. You can use anything from wood planks to logs, metal panels, purpose-fabricated plastic, and other materials. The most common type is made with wood and that'southward what I chose for mine besides.
Before construction, you'll need to work out a few things: the situation, bed sizes, number of beds, and the building materials. Choose a sunny spot and if it's well-drained and had adept soil that'due south a bonus. One of my challenges is that my beds are virtually trees and a hedge. If you can, situate yours at least
The best width for a raised garden bed is four feet (1.2m). Beds this wide are easy to reach into from all sides which is what you want. The best length is debatable. I retrieve that if you're tempted to hop over your beds regularly then they're too long. Eight anxiety (2.4m) is standard simply 12′ (3.7m) is common too. These measurements are based on the beds existence rectangular but you can build your beds in whatever shape you choose.
Raised Garden Bed layout
- Cull a sunny spot
- If possible, situate beds away from trees and hedges
- Build beds to exist 4′ (1.2m) wide or less
- Requite infinite betwixt beds to walk, mow, or push button a wheelbarrow through. Mine are xx″ (51cm) wide
- Use a grid layout for rectangular beds. This makes access easier.
Raised garden bed materials
In one case you know the size of beds you lot'd like and the layout, you'll exist able to piece of work out your materials. In my case, I bought 16′ planks (iv.8m) that we cut downward into viii′ (2.4m) and four′ (1.2m) lengths. The planks are 1.85″ (iv.7cm) thick and 6″ (15cm) wide.
For the corner posts, I chose 2×2″ (5x5cm) stakes that are ii′ (61cm) long. My posts are long because my beds are on a slope and I don't want them to move at all. If you're on a flat surface, you don't need to drive the stakes in if yous don't wish. That means they tin be every bit brusque as the height of your finished beds.
To make wooden raised garden beds you'll also need long stainless steel screws meant for outdoor apply. They're usually chosen exterior or decking screws.

The all-time wood for raised garden beds
At that place are diverse materials you can use to build the sides of your raised garden beds. I've seen bricks, cinder blocks, corrugated covering sheets, tires, and even wood-outcome plastic. Some of these are expensive and some may leak toxins into the soil. That's one of the reasons I chose forest for my own beds. That, and I like how they look.
When considering wood, you could use whole logs, or more usually, planks. Planks over an inch (3cm) in thickness will last longer, and the best wood for raised garden beds is difficult forest. The best of the best is cedar since it'due south naturally rot-resistant, doesn't require chemical treatments, looks slap-up, and will last for x-20 years. It'southward also expensive then could be cost-prohibitive. In my instance, it'due south non even available since I live on a small-scale, isolated, isle and my choices are limited.
The side by side best forest for raised garden beds is soft wood like pine and spruce. It's a cheaper option only beds made of soft wood only last seven-x years. Information technology's also a lot more susceptible to fungi and pests like termites which is why it's usually always pressure treated.

Pressure-treated wood for raised garden beds
The forest I've used for my new raised garden beds is bandbox and information technology'due south pressure treated with Tanalith East[1]. It's a compound fabricated upwardly of copper and organic biocides that tiresome the wood's natural rotting process and defend it from fungus and insects. If it'due south been pressure treated onto the wood, it's accepted by the organic organization, the Soil Association, for utilise in building organic vegetable beds[2].
I spoke with the timber merchant and the sawmill that cut and treated the forest I purchased. It turns out that before 2006 in the UK and Europe, and 2003 in the USA, most wood was treated with an unsafe preservative. Information technology included arsenic and high amounts of chromium that could leach into the soil. These days that's no longer the case but older reclaimed wood could still accept that preservative. Besides, some commercial wood like that used for telephone poles is likely treated with toxic preservatives.
If you find soft wood that has not been treated at all then you can employ that too. Its lifespan tin can be very short though so program to replace the planks every five years.

Using pallets for raised garden beds
I congenital my very first raised garden beds using wood reclaimed from pallets. Information technology was a nightmare getting the planks off undamaged only nosotros got there eventually. They worked a care for at beginning but later on two years the forest already looked ready to be replaced. It was an inexpensive selection though — practically free — so if your budget is express, go for information technology.
When using pallets delight be aware that there'southward a type you should avoid. On the side on any pallet is a postage stamp with various letters and symbols. It will always include either the initials 'HT' or 'MB' and sometimes 'SF'. HT means the wood was heat-treated to kill whatever pests and it besides means that it's safe to use. MB means that the woods has been treated with the pesticide Methyl bromide and is unsafe for your garden or abode. SF refers to a new type of pesticide called Sulphuryl Fluoride and you lot should avert using pallets marked with this abridgement besides. Often these initials appear alongside 'DB'. That merely ways that the woods has been debarked and is non something to worry about.

Make a Raised Garden Bed
Each side of my raised garden beds is built using 2 planks. They're attached together and to the other planks with a stake fix at each corner. This is how we congenital them and the video at the end of this piece will requite you a better picture.
- Each bed will have 8 planks and iv stakes. At that place are 2 planks for each side with mine the shorter sides are iv′ and the longer ones are 8′. The stakes don't need to be driven into the ground for flat surfaces. For slopes, it's a good idea to have them 8-12″ in the footing.
- To brainstorm, identify two shorter planks together on a apartment surface. If they're printed, set them so that the printing is facing you.
- Attach them to stakes set at the corners. A screw goes through the stake into each plank and it helps to drill a pilot hole first. This helps stop the wood from splitting. With my design, I also left infinite betwixt the pale and the edge of the planks. This space is where the longer planks for the other sides would slot in. I besides gear up the stakes slightly beneath the edge of the planks (nigh an inch) and so they're not every bit visible.
- Echo this process for the shorter planks for the other side of the bed.
- Accept these finished sides to near the area y'all're building the beds.

Building Raised Garden Beds
Once those 2 shorter sides are put together, you tin can finish building the beds in situ.
- Lay ii of the longer planks on the ground, printed sides facing yous. Set up one of the shorter sides upright at a xc-degree angle to the long planks. Screw through the stake into the longer planks to adhere. Repeat this step and attach the other short side to the other end of the long planks.
- With the help of a second person, lay the iii-sided bed down flat. Attach the last ii long planks to form the terminal side. Make sure the printed side will be on the inside of the bed once again.
- Mensurate where your beds are to be placed and mark the areas where the four corners will be.
- If y'all're on a flat surface, flip the bed over and set information technology in its position. Skip the next step.
- Raised garden beds on slopes need a flake more stability. Information technology'south to stop movement and requite the bed a firmer standing. Driving the stakes into the ground helps the beds and forest to stay put and reduce splitting. Dig holes deep enough for each of the stakes at the four corners and then flip the bed over and put information technology in its final placement. Make full in the holes and postage stamp downward.
- Screw each shorter plank into its adjoining longer plank with two screws. Drill pilot holes offset.
- Fill the beds with your choice of topsoil, compost, manure, and workout/aerating materials. Wait two weeks for the beds to settle before planting up.

How to fill raised garden beds
One of the most disruptive parts of building raised garden beds is choosing what to fill them with. First of all, if you've chosen not to line your beds, you should still put downwardly a layer of cardboard or stacks of newspaper. This will suppress the grass and weeds beneath. That's correct, you don't have to dig the footing and y'all can fill up them in correct on superlative of the turf.
The general dominion is to fill raised garden beds with 40% topsoil mixed with 40% compost or well-rotted manure, and 20% textile that adds drainage and water-retaining backdrop. You'll run into in the video that I've ignored that rule due to my fearfulness of the New Zealand Flatworm being introduced via contaminated topsoil. I'one thousand in a unique situation that shouldn't affect too many other people. The topsoil on the Isle of Man may be contaminated with this pest and its eggs and I don't desire to risk information technology in my garden.
Mulch raised garden beds yearly
Later you fill up them once, you should still add together a layer of organic matter, such equally compost, seaweed, and rotted manure, as a yearly mulch. Only spread it an inch or two deep all over the surface of the beds and plant or sow seeds directly into the compost. A compost mulch not only suppresses weeds but maintains soil health and productivity. That leads to large, healthy harvests.
Making garden compost is easy so this need not be an expensive part of gardening. I go through the easiest style to make compost over here. There's likewise an excellent article that outlines how to set up and ameliorate garden soil that I recommend you bank check out. I should also say that I'thousand confronting filling raised garden beds with garden waste matter and sub-soil, even at the lesser. If it's not expert enough to abound veggies in an open bed, then information technology's not going to help them grow unseen at the lesser of your raised garden beds.
Video on Building Raised Garden Beds
I become through the process of edifice raised garden beds and the challenges in the video merely below. It shows how nosotros built the beds and also a good discussion of the best wood for raised garden beds. If you accept whatsoever questions yous can leave a comment on this piece or over on YouTube.
References
[1] Tanlith E
[2] Tanalised Timber: on tanalized timber existence prophylactic for organic vegetable beds
gregoryhatereast57.blogspot.com
Source: https://lovelygreens.com/building-raised-garden-beds/
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