Raised Beds - Plan, Build, & Plant | Jung Seed's Gardening Blog

Raised Beds 101: Planning, Building, & Planting Blog

As a new gardener, I was eager to have a bumper crop of veggies. But there was a problem. The soil in my yard was heavy clay, which caused drainage problems. Raised beds made it easy to control the soil in the garden and have a good harvest each year. And it’s not just better soil. The elevated beds reduce the amount of bending needed to work in the garden. These beds have many benefits and can be customized to fit your needs.

Smart Garden Planning

Before you create raised beds, think about the goals for the space. These questions can help you get started.

What plants are you hoping to grow?
How much space is needed?
How many raised beds do you want?
What areas of the garden are suitable for raised beds? Consider the distance from your kitchen, the amount of sunlight, and nearby structures or trees. Also, try to find an area that is fairly level. It’s best to avoid areas near black walnut trees since the roots contain a toxin called Juglone, which can harm veggie plants.

Great Plants for Raised Beds

Many gardeners are hoping to grow veggies, and for good reason. These structures give you the flexibility to produce nearly anything. And it’s not just veggies. You can also grow herbs and perennials. When I left home for college, my raised beds were turned into perennial gardens to reduce future maintenance (Though I still keep one bed for veggies).

Vegetables

Raised beds have several benefits for veggies, starting with the soil. It can take years to amend the native soil in a yard. With raised beds, you’re able to begin with the right soil. Many garden centers and landscape suppliers offer customized soil mixes (these are often available in bags or bulk orders for delivery). Organic matter is a key part of healthy soil since it improves the soil structure to hold water and nutrients. As you choose a soil, look for mixes containing compost and other types of organic material, like peat.

During my first year of using raised beds, the harvest exceeded my expectations. But after a couple of seasons, the plants weren’t as vigorous. It’s likely the soil was becoming worn down and needed amending. That’s why it’s good to have the soil tested every season or two (you can buy a testing kit or send samples to your local extension office). These tests will share the nutrient levels in the soil and the amount of organic matter. And in many cases, you’ll receive recommendations for improving your soil.

Organic matter is great for root crops (like carrots, radishes, and beets), which need loose soil to grow deep roots and form the edible portion of the plant. Adding compost to your raised beds each year will help maintain good structure and provide a use for kitchen scraps. You can also buy compost from a local supplier.

Herbs

A raised bed is perfect for herbs since many of them remain small, making it easy to mix them in the bed with veggies or give them a separate area. Most herbs are well suited to raised beds, but mint should be grown in containers (due to its aggressive nature). Some botanic gardens will grow mint in containers that are sunk into the ground, so that’s another option (some mint varieties will trail over the container edges, so keep an eye on them).

Perennials

In my backyard, there’s a tall deck with rock mulch underneath where we store garden supplies. To improve the view, I added a metal raised bed (8’ long x 4’ wide x 18” tall) and planted Sun King Aralia, which creates a wall of chartreuse color to block the view of garden supplies in summer. Raised beds are a great way to showcase perennials, as many plants will overwinter with no issues. For creating the beds, gardeners will often use different materials, like stone, wood, or concrete blocks, to create the beds. Certain plants may struggle to overwinter if they’re not fully hardy in your area, so it’s best to stick with reliable plants for your zone.

Designing Your Layout

As you create a plan for the raised beds, consider having paths between each bed. Each path should be wide enough to walk through while carrying garden supplies, like a wheelbarrow.

The right size and shape of a bed will depend on your needs. A rectangle bed is often 4’ wide x 8’ long, with a 6″- 24″ depth. Gardeners like to avoid stepping in the beds (this compacts the soil), so a width of 4′ or less is ideal. As for the shape, raised beds can be square, rectangular, or even round.

Raised beds can be as short or tall as you’d like. A tall raised bed is convenient for working and helps deter small animals from eating the plants. You can also make tabletop beds that are accessible for wheelchairs or scooters.

How To Build A Raised Bed

Closeup of a man using a pneumatic nail gun to finish the trim on cedar garden planters with sawdust flying

Building your own raised bed can be a great weekend project. However, you can also purchase quick and easy-to-assemble kits if you prefer. Use these steps to create a 4’ x 8’ x 12” cedar raised bed.

Supplies

2 – 2” x 12” x 8’ cedar wood
2 – 2” x 12” x 4’ cedar wood
6 – 1 ½” X 1 ½” x 12” cedar wood (This wood is for the vertical brace that goes in each corner of the bed and halfway along the 8′ sides)
12 – 2 ½” coated screws (self-tapping)
12 – 3 ½” coated screws (self-tapping)
24 cubic feet of soil or raised bed mix
8 cubic feet of compost

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1 – Attach the six braces to the wood (use 2 of the 2 ½” screws for each brace). The braces will face inside the bed.
Step 2 – Take the 4’ wood and attach to the 8’ wood in each corner (use 3 of the 3 ½” screws for each corner). Avoid putting the screws into the brace.
Step 3 – Double-check that the bed is level and adjust if needed.
Step 4 – Add soil and mix in the compost.
Step 5 – Plant!