DIY raised garden beds for better yields

Natural weather is facing big problems from the effects of climate change, which is beginning to harm green spaces across the globe. These green spaces are incredibly valuable, fed because they produce food, support wildlife and clean the air. Gardeners and farmers are constantly on the lookout for the best way to combat the challenges that the environment presents when it comes to growing plants.

They use organic gardening, growing plants in controlled environments like hydroponic systems, or using grow tents and greenhouses. These systems are simple, portable, and manageable. They enable growers to provide plants with the correct levels of nutrients, water, and light to promote better growth.

A helpful alternative is a raised garden bed. In this arrangement, plants grow on their own, but the grower has the ability to control the soil, nutrients, and watering. Raised beds can sit inside an interior space, or outside on a patio, deck, porch, or balcony receiving adequate sunlight.

Growcycle is a great resource for anyone interested in sustainable gardening. It provides helpful information on the best ways to grow plants, especially in raised garden beds. They also offer quality products to improve soil and help grow different types of plants successfully.

Overview of DIY Raised Garden Beds

DIY Raised Garden Beds would be making a small or some bigger space for growing plants in a raised pattern above the ground. Growers can create them right on the ground or a few feet from the ground. A border of wood or metal is necessary to protect the plants. These miniature gardens can efficiently produce a surprising number of plants.

They can be mobile and offer a variety of options to fit the needs of growers. In areas that are unsuitable for a typical garden, such spaces are able to grow a wide range of plants very effectively. Growers will need to include a healthy soil mix with more organic fertilizer for higher yields. 

The following should be added when filling raised garden bed containers;

• Material that will block weeds from entering.
• Little rocks or gravel on top of the weed fabric.
• Garden compost or manure.
• A sterile soil mix with rich topsoil.

Types of Raised Garden Beds

There are so many styles of raised garden beds; each is created with unique gardening needs and preferences in mind. Here are some common types:

1. Raised Ground Beds

A garden bed like this is formed by mounding soil and shaping it into flat-topped hills, typically 6 to 8 inches high. The soil is adequately combined with compost, and the location is well tilled to prepare it.

Pros

• Plants thrive in well-drained soil.
• All that is needed for its production is a healthy soil.
• Easy to make.

Cons

• Need organic matter application frequently.
• Prone to soil erosion.

2. Supported Raised Beds

A raised bed is a supported bed with healthy, disease- and weed-free soil. The media is put in a three-dimensional bed of wood, plastic, or metal, around which is placed the soil mass. The bed is formable in any desired way by the growers.

Pros

• Weeds or pests can not attack these raised beds.
• You get more signage per square foot than in in-ground raised beds.
• It's more organized, and the fertile soil stays put.

Cons

• It is expensive to the material that supports it.
• Once the bed is formed, growers cannot change the shape of the bed.
• Requires careful maintenance.

3. Containerized Raised Beds

They feature tall walls and can be advantageous in areas where traditional gardening is not possible. The soil is abundant in nutrients from all the organic material in the containers.

Pros

• These beds are movable, and growers can be positioned where better growing conditions exist.
• The soil adsorbs all applied water, and no runoff occurs.
• A variety of plant forms are successful.

Cons

• Soil requires constant regeneration.
• They need to be fertilized more frequently.
• Planting in containers is costly.

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How to Setup a DIY Raised Garden Bed?

Setting up a raised garden bed is simple and can be done in a few steps:

1. Select a Location

When it comes to where to put a raised garden bed, the more sunlight, the better. Vegetables prefer to be in 6 to 8 hours of full sun. Gardeners may use raised bed with:

• Kale
• Lettuce
• Mustard greens
• Spinach

With moderate shade or less. The surface on which farmers plan to construct a ridge should be even and simple to maintain.

2. Know the Measurements

Containerized raised bed growing is as efficient as it gets for a gardener. Span of the bed: 6-12 feet. A 6-foot-long raised bed is suitable for planting herbs, small shrubs, and other smaller plants, and that should be done over a distance of at least 12 inches to allow for diversity of plants. The most effective depth for a raised bed is 16 to 18 inches. In this range, plants get good root development and are encouraged to be healthier.

3. Get the Supporting Materials

Wood is the best suited for making sturdy and strong supporting material, which should sustain different loads. Growers can construct durable raised beds of redwood or cedar, the longest-lasting and safest woods. Cedar is naturally rot-resistant, so it is also a safer choice for raised garden beds.

Metal, concrete, and even bricks are alternatives if you want to build a raised garden bed, but wood is a nicer choice because it is durable and easy to work with. Furthermore, the whole set can be connected using nails and screws.

4. Make the Bed

Take the size of the raised garden bed and cut the wood accordingly in the area where they will be placed. Once they have cut the wood to the size they want, growers can then apply the wood seal to create a hard-wearing raised bed. Prepare the Ground Before placing the bed, remove any extraneous objects, plant debris, and debris from the ground. Level the ground first before setting the raised bed.

5. Assemble the Walls

With the raised garden bed frame set, it's time to join the cut sides. Have nails and pins in, strong to hold all the parts perfectly together, and giving a firm support for the growing plants. Firstly, you'll join the small corners by hovering over a flat surface.

Then attach the shorter pieces to the larger pieces of wood. Also, keep the nails apart so that the parts don't break at the time of planting. Also, sturdy braces could be attached to the longer wood for additional safety.

6. Add Weed Protection

With its lack of height and the barrier it creates on the sides, a raised garden bed is hardly susceptible to weeds or pests. But crowded growth may bring such problems to the soil. Lay weed-blocking landscape fabric, or the material known as hardware cloth, at the base of the raised garden bed.

Cut the hardware cloth to match the bed’s length and secure it in multiple spots from one side to the other. Screws or wires can be used to fasten the pieces of hardware cloth.

7. Introduce the Soil

Garden beds should feature enriched soil, replete with beneficial nutrients and moisture to promote robust root development. The pH of the soil should be modified to be alkaline or acidic as required by the plant.

Regular garden soil is not advised to be used in these beds. Instead, opt for a premium soil mix or ensure the soil combination contains fertile soil, organic nutrients, and a top layer of compost. The compost also makes the soil better at holding moisture, and a bit warmer than normal.

8. Start Planting

Gardeners ascend into the sky to bring us the right plants for raised garden beds. Many different types of plants can be grown in these beds. But there are a few plants to steer clear of, like corn, grains, and aggressive herbs such as mint. They should also keep in mind that each plant has a recommended depth and spacing and should lay them in the raised bed accordingly.

Raised Garden Beds vs. In Ground Beds

Raised garden beds and ground beds are two popular ways to grow plants, each with its own benefits and challenges. Choosing between them depends on soil quality, space, and personal preferences. Here is a quick comparison:

Benefits of Raised Garden Beds

Raised garden beds have many benefits that make gardening easier and more effective.

Benefits of Raised Garden Beds

• Better Drainage: The soil in raised beds drains well, which helps prevent water from collecting and making the soil too wet. This is especially good for plants that don’t like standing water around their roots.
• Improved Soil Quality: Gardeners can add the best quality soil to raised beds, which helps plants grow better. This is especially useful if the natural soil in the area isn’t great for gardening.
• Easier to Care For: Raised garden beds are higher off the ground, making it easier for gardeners to work without bending down too much. This makes gardening more comfortable, especially for people with back or knee problems.
• Better Pest Control: Raised beds can make it harder for pests like rabbits or insects to reach the plants, helping reduce the damage they can do to the garden.
• Longer Growing Season: The soil in raised beds warms up faster in the spring, so plants can start growing earlier. This also gives gardeners a longer time to grow plants before the cold weather arrives.
• Less Weeding: Raised garden beds are less likely to have weeds because the soil is not as compacted as it is in the ground. This makes it easier to keep the garden tidy and reduces the time spent pulling weeds.

Suitable Plants to Grow in a Raised Garden Bed

Raised garden beds are great for many types of plants. Here are a few good plants to grow in them:

1. Vegetables

The best vegetables to grow in a raised garden bed are:

• Carrots
• Onions
• Cabbage
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

Regular garden soil should not be used, because it may contain weeds and pests, and can be too dense for a pot container. Rather, you should consider using a high-quality soil mix rich in nutrients and having a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Organic nutrients can be added to growing soil in raised beds, as required by the plants. Raised beds protect vegetables from pests and the cold of winter. Here is why raised beds are good for some vegetables:

• Onions require a long growing season and will benefit from being planted in raised beds because lifting the onions is easier after the bulbs grow and mature. They’re best planted in spring, and in 100 days or so, they’ll be ready to harvest. They grow better with regular nutrient applications.
• Potatoes thrive in the open, fertile soil found in raised beds. Plant them in soil that has the correct pH down to a depth of 6 inches. They require an ample amount of sunlight and should not be watered until the sprout begins.
• Lettuce prefers well-drained soil and plenty of sun. Lettuce needs about 30 days to green up in a raised bed.

2. Bedding Plants

With DIY Raised Garden Beds, you can grow many bedding plants, among them:

• Marigolds
• Geraniums
• Pansies

The raised garden bed provides long, warmer soil, which greatly favors the growth of the flowers. To successfully grow bedding plants, plant cool-season seeds in spring. Even though we can include some plants like petunias to plant out in summer.

Ornamental crops such as petunias and marigolds have an approximate six-week production time in raised beds, with dirt consistently moist and nutrient-rich. Some types of garlic take longer to mature. Throughout, terrace board raised beds serve as the perfect hotbeds for an assortment of colorful planting beds.

3. Herbs    

A variety of herbs can be easily grown with raised garden beds.

• Cilantro
• Chives
• Parsley
• Basil
• Thyme
• Rosemary

are ideal for these spaces. They don't require more space and can grow anywhere. Moderate light; these plants do not need a lot of light. A mix of flowering herbs is home to many beneficial insects that increase pollination.

For herbs to grow best, receive gentle, even moisture. These plants don't necessarily need the help of synthetic fertilizers. But growers can supplement with organically-based fertilizers, or even compost, to meet the plant's nitrogen needs. It’s simple to grow several different herbs in one raised bed.

But the growth of invasive herbs needs to be avoided in Raised Garden Beds. Also, the existing herbs should be pruned often to avoid the bed becoming too crowded.

4. Smaller Shrubs

Other large shrubs are also popular plantings for a raised bed garden.

• Lavender
• Boxwood
• Mugo pine
• Dwarf hydrangeas
• Junipers

are excellent and appropriate to this use. All these small shrubs are capable of excellent performance in more confined areas in well-drained soils, with minimal inputs of time and effort.

With short root systems, it is ideal for small areas and pots. And they like even, gentle moisture to grow well. By adding compost to the soil, gardeners are able to keep the soil at the proper temperature, which means a better plant.

Elevated garden beds can house all sorts of bushes, and their vibrant flowers indicate a healthier locale. When sowing seeds, proper spacing is key; for mature shrubs, be sure to prune any overgrown sections periodically.

Fertilizing Tips for DIY Raised Garden Beds

Here are a few universal tips that growers need to remember when applying the fertilizer to the DIY Raised Garden Beds.

• Growers ought to soil test prior to fertilizing. This allows them to learn the soil’s nutrient chemistry and feed the plants as a result of that understanding.
• A growers could try general vegetable fertilizer from when they are planting such as veggies, herbs or flowers in raised bed garden beds with a slow release fertilizer.
• The best time to feed the soil is in spring. Growers can choose any organic medium they prefer for their plants, compost, manure or fish emulsions.
• The perfect NPK ratio for spring lawn fertilizers includes balanced amounts of all three macronutrients.
• Green plants love super high nitrogen fertilizer when they are growing strong, while vegetables do best with liquid fertilizer that's high in potassium and phosphorus for big crops.
• For liquid fertilizers, the applications need to be done more often, whereas the slow-release options might hold for a long time.
• Read the recommended rates from the fertilizer container carefully before using it.
• Do not use excessive fertilizers, as this would stimulate a nutrient burn.
• Organic matter should also be composted prior to application, as raw organic matter can be detrimental to plant growth.

Increase Efficiency of Raised Garden Beds

Here are some common things growers should do for a better growing experience in raised garden beds:

• Don't position a raised bed near a large tree in the garden because the tree's widespread root system may compete with your smaller bed plants for nutrients.
• Use a crop rotation system with a raised garden to prevent soil from being quickly stripped of all of its nutrients.
• Time-release the nutrients in the raised bed, and put them in only as much as you need, as there is less soil to fill in a raised bed than in a garden plot.
• Assemble various parts, and it is a good idea to confirm the connection of the raised garden bed’s frame carefully.
• Ensure the soil gets proper mulch, which is crucial for maintaining ideal temperatures. 

The Bottom Line

Shifting to a raised garden bed can make gardening much easier and better. Once set up properly, these beds can help growers improve plant growth and soil quality. Both beginners and experienced gardeners can build DIY raised beds to make their garden more efficient.

For gardeners, raised beds can provide an opportunity to grow food at home or to make better use of urban space. But it’s important to take care of the garden with nutrients and soil replenishment to continue to keep it healthy. Growcycle has a number of products designed for plants in raised beds. Growers can find the best nutrients for a green thriving garden and tools for better gardening.

Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for legal, medical, financial, or any other form of professional advice.

About the Author

Victor Miller

Environmental Journalist Focused on Sustainable Agriculture

Victor Miller is an environmental journalist at Growcycle, where he covers the latest news, trends, and innovations in sustainable agriculture. He has a deep passion for storytelling that emphasizes ecological balance and responsible farming practices.