People have begun to appreciate the value and benefits of raised beds for backyard gardens. Basically, there are two versions of raised garden beds – contained and natural.
Contained garden beds are essentially receptacles with soil, compost and internal or external water pipe systems. On the other hand, when you work subsoil and organic substances into a mound to be used for gardening, it becomes a natural raised garden bed. Whether you choose a natural or contained garden bed for your yard, there are many benefits for this method of planting.
Below are four typical benefits a homeowner can obtain from this method of gardening:
Weed and Pest Control
You can easily keep weeds away from your home garden by use of a raised bed. The barriers on the sides of the receptacle prevent pathway weeds that would normally grow alongside your plants. A card board sheet or bark mulch on the sides will ensure you stay a long time without ever weeding. Pest control can be achieved by use of chicken wire beneath or above the bed.
The Best Possible Soil
Novice gardeners can relate to the problems encountered when trying to work through the top soil which is usually hard to dig and quite barren. But in contrast, the subsoil found much deeper is softer and loaded with minerals. So use the latter as the base soil for your raised garden bed. You may also blend subsoil with organic or inorganic fertilizer to improve its productivity.
Relocation
It is an agonizing experience to move from one home to another, and leave behind a fruitful garden patch you spent days on end working on. The notion that you have to start such a project afresh can weigh you down considerably. Conversely, a raised container garden bed is portable. You can have it transported to your new home with your precious vegetables, herbs or flowers still intact.
Comfortable tilling
It is more comfortable to work on a raised garden bed than on a flat patch of land. This method is especially convenient for elderly folk whose backs and knees have grown weaker with time. You can obtain or construct garden beds that permit you to reach from one end to the other without a problem.
How To Build A Raised Garden Bed
Step 1: Find some used lumbar. If we are going to do this with a frugal attitude than we aren’t going to make a trip to Home Depot and buy the finest wood they have. We aren’t looking to support a roof. We are encasing some dirt, so don’t go overboard. Plus some nice aged lumbar will give the garden a rustic look that you might enjoy better.
Step 2: Hammer the edges of the 4 pieces of lumbar you found with some rusty nails until you have something that resembles a square or rectangle shape. If you have a triangle find one more piece of wood and try again.
Step 3: Dig a Trench! The bed should be about 2 inches deep. Place the frame where you want it and make sure it is level by using the dirt to your advantage.
Step 4: This is where you might want to spend a few dollars. You are going to fill your garden bed with some top soil and the better the quality, the better the results.
Step 5: Plant, Water, and enjoy the fruits of your frugal labor!