The Why and the How:
Building a Raised Bed for the Garden
To novice or aspiring gardeners, the
winter months hardly seem like the ideal time to cultivate crops or plant
seeds. Experienced gardeners know better, however, as gardening is in fact more
of a full-time hobby that can be practiced all year round. November
is an excellent time to move any deciduous shrubs,
for example, and by digging up the root and replanting them in a new position
you can optimise their growth. This little known fact underlines the complexity
of gardening and the challenges facing enthusiasts all year round.
The raised beds by the pond |
Building a Raised Bed
for the Garden Why is it a Beneficial Move
Novices may also have heard of building
raised beds in their garden, as this is another relatively simple tasks that
can help individuals to avoid a host of outdoor challenges. As a starting
point, it is important to note that raised beds are filled with a customised
soil and compost blend, rather than standard soil that can require replacing
all too often. This reduces the labour associated with maintaining your garden
space, as does the fact that drainage is built into the bed walls to negate the
risk or erosion. In the summer months, raised beds also provide plants with greater
exposure to the sun and helps to extend the traditional growing season.
On the issue of labour, raising the soil
level and planting an elevated bed by even a relatively small amount reduces
the hard work required to place seeds, weed and harvest crops. Even sensible
and proactive gardeners who use multipurpose tools from a reputable supplier
such as Anglia
Tools can struggle with the physical intensity of outdoor
chores, and having a slightly raised bed can help to ease this burden.
How to Create a Raised
Bed in your Garden
When it comes to building your raised
bed, it is important to identify the necessary construction materials. As it is
essentially a bottomless frame that is set into a shallow trench, you will need
to focus on building up the sides with various materials including rock, brick
concrete or even interlocking blocks. Timber is the most popular construction
material for raised beds, however, although you will need to avoid using wood
that is preserved with toxins if you intend to grow edibles.
On a similar note, you should also avoid
placing creosote treated railroad ties to reinforce your raised bed. This
is also unsafe for crops or edibles, as toxins can escape into the soil and
place your family and friends at risk.
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