Raised Garden Bed Plans

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Posted by | Posted in Garden Layout | Posted on 20-08-2011

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Raised Bed Plans - HappyFarming.com by Thomas Wagner Nielsen

Raised Garden Beds are Ideal for Small Yards and Patios

Is your backyard rather limited in size? If you have always dreamed of growing your own vegetables but simply do not have room outside for a garden, consider buying some raised garden boxes to grow your vegetables in.

If you do not know what raised gardening is, it is simply a way to plant and grow vegetables without the need for much space. Instead of planting the seeds directly into the ground, you will plant them in boxes that are elevated up and off the ground. These raised beds are available online and are quite affordable. Raised vegetable beds come in all sorts of sizes and shapes and can be made from a variety of materials such as wood, composite or stone.

About the author: Caitlina is a freelance writer.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/raised-garden-beds-are-ideal-for-small-yards-and-patios-3446163.html

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    What are the best raised bed garden plans?

    • ANSWER:
      This is a great page. Step by step instructions and lots more.

      http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bed~const.html

  2. QUESTION:
    How high does a raised garden bed have to be?
    I plan to build a raised garden bed in my back yard to grow vegetables (tomatoes, squash, etc.). I am planning to raise the bed only about 5.5" from the ground. Is that enough to make a difference or does the bed have to be higher? It seems like there are lots of variations on bed height from about 5.5" to about 30". I don't know if this makes a difference, but I am in Zone 7. Thanks for the help.

    • ANSWER:
      If you are plainning to plant with deep root system (carrots...) you will need at least 8". For regular rooting crop like tomato, squash.... 6" should be enough. Make sur that your bed is wide enough to allow root spreading and to allow the heat to disipate. Water retention will also be lower in a smaller bed. In a warm zone this can mean more watering. Use a mixture base with a good compost rather than peat moss.

      Marc

  3. QUESTION:
    Do I have to kill the lawn before putting a raised garden bed on top?
    I plan on creating a 16" deep raised bed on my lawn. Do I have to somehow kill it so that it does not grow into my garden, or will it die and turn into compost when buried 16" deep?
    I'd rather not put paper/cardboard as I plan on organic garden, and who knows what kind of binders/glues these cardboard have in them....

    • ANSWER:
      In my garden center magazine it says to measure out the areas and then dig the grass up then turn over on itself. I was looking at doing this myself, and it gave full instructions of how to do a raised garden, and as long as no sunlight gets to it, it will not grow through.

  4. QUESTION:
    what is best soil mix for a raised herb garden bed?
    I am making a raised bed to plant herbs in. What is the best soil for it? I plan to put landscape fabric down and then the soil and then plants. Location gets full Texas sun.
    Oops! I forgot to ask what is the best mulch to put over the plants after I plant them? Can you use cedar mulch or will it not be safe for edibles?
    Oops! I forgot to ask what is the best mulch to put over the plants after I plant them? Can you use cedar mulch or will it not be safe for edibles?

    • ANSWER:
      I like using Miracle Grow for flowers and vegetables, I grew herbs, flowers and veggies with it!

  5. QUESTION:
    Raised Garden Bed. MAJOR weed issues in garden area. Would this work?
    Hello! I'm planning on making a raised garden bed because what I was doing resulted in HORRIBLE weeds and I can't get on my knees to weed.

    I want to grow a BUNCH of tomatoes, different types of peppers, herbs, etc. and I was thinking that on top of making a raised bed with wood, I would take the plants that will grow really big and have the biggest problem with weeds and plant them in these:

    Oldcastle 8 in. x 8 in. x 8 in. Concrete Block
    http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Concrete-Cement-Masonry-Concrete-Blocks-Bricks-Lintels/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xmiZboge/R-100350198/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    I would dig down and put a tomato plant or pepper plant in each block so that the roots start below the bottom of the block and then fill in the block with potting soil.

    I would then use these for herbs or lettuces:

    QUIKRETE 4x8x16 Normal Weight Block
    http://www.lowes.com:80/pd_10382-286-097120_4294858233_4294937087_?productId=3006074&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Block_4294858233_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_quantity_sold%7C1%26Va%3Dtrue

    Would that work?

    I'm thinking that I will do 3 individual Planting Beds, each one 5 feet long by 3 feet wide.

    One for tomatoes, one for peppers and zucchini, one for herbs and lettuces.

    If I use the blocks, I can cover the whole box with anti-weed matting and just cut holes for the blocks.

    Any advice or comments?

    • ANSWER:
      Your idea will work just fill the holes with the tomato plants in them as the plants grow. Use preen weed control before putting down your weed mat and this will help to control the weeds. Also use a good mulch on top of the weed matting as this will help retain moisture and also help control any weeds that do decide to grow.


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