Raised garden beds have numerous benefits. Learn how to build a raised garden bed in this blog post!
Benefits of Raised Garden Bed:
- Great for Beginners – If you’re new at gardening starting with a raised garden bed is a great idea! Raised beds offer numerous benefits that make gardening easier, see below why they’re an awesome way to start out!
- They Look Nice – Raised garden beds offer a beautiful, clean, contained look for your garden. You can easily create a gorgeous gardening space with raised beds. TIP: Add pea gravel around your garden beds to add even more emphasis. This can also create a nice pathway to your garden and gravel can help create a weed barrier, making less upkeep.
- Plant Earlier in the Season – You’ll notice on the back of your seed packet the ground needs to remain above a certain temperature for your seeds to germinate. The soil in a raised garden bed stays warmer than in-ground gardening, because the walls offer insulation, which means you can plant earlier.
- Keep Out those Critters – By elevating your garden off the ground, you automatically help prevent bugs and critters in your garden. Dogs are less likely to trample or urinate in your garden if it’s in a raised bed. Obviously if deer are an issue, a raised bed alone will not deter them, but you can add a built-in deer fence around it. This is not only functional, but gives a polished look.
- Easier on Your Back – Trust us, your back will thank you for building a raised bed because you won’t have to bend over as far. You can also sit on the edges to easily tend to your garden.
- Better Drainage – If you’re next to a creek or in an area prone to flooding, a raised garden is just what the doctor ordered. Because your garden will be raised up off the ground, this allows for more drainage. Proper drainage is essential for a healthy and productive garden. You won’t have to worry as much about over-watering or root rot with proper watering in a raised garden bed.
- Fewer Weeds – Most soil in raised garden beds does not require tilling, which means less work for you! Tilling can actually cause more weed growth in your garden, because when you cultivate soil, you’re also mixing in potential seeds and propagating. You won’t have to worry about this with a raised garden bed!
Sounds like fun, let’s get started!
Materials List:
- Bloom InstaBrace – We sell these in a 4 pack, there are two different styles to choose from (sun & dragonfly). They are very easy to use!
- Whitney Farms Organic Raised Bed Mix – You will need a soil blend specifically formulated for raised garden beds.
- Wood of Your Choice – For this, use whatever wood you would like or have on-hand, you will need at least 4 pieces. Reclaimed or recycled wood will work great (just make sure they’re not too warped). We suggest using (3) 2’x4′, (2) 2’x6′, or (1) 2’x12′.
- No tools necessary!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Step 1 Find a flat, level area that is large enough for your garden bed. TIP: Be sure to take into consideration the amount of sun or shade it gets, this will depend on what you plan on planting.
- Step 2 Once you have your area set up, place all four InstaBraces in a square or rectangle (depending on the length of your boards and your desired shape).
- Step 3 Starting in one corner, slide the end of your board into the brace, repeat until all boards are in the braces.
- Step 4 Finally, add your soil and start planting! It’s as easy as that!
Gardening can be quite therapeutic and a great getaway from your hectic work life. So if not into gardening, why not try something new! You may just fall in love, please it’s not as difficult as it’s cracked up to be! Check out all our blogs for more DIY projects, tips, and inspiration!
Thanks for reading,
Jessica Hastriter
Director of Marketing & Advertising
