Raised Bed Garden – How To Easily Choose The Right One

Whether you are building or buying a raised bed garden, you will need to spend some time thinking about what size will suit your garden best. In order to get exactly what you want, it’s important to select the right bed as a mistake can have unpleasant consequences in terms of cost not to mention the hassle if you had to disassemble and reassemble the bed again.

However, these guidelines will hopefully assist you to make the right decision and avoid costly mistakes.

Width

The popular width for a freestanding bed is 4 foot as this width makes it easy for most people to reach the middle of the bed and tend to the plants without straining too much.

However, if you’re fixing the bed to some kind of structure like the side of your garage, house or fence, then a width of 2 foot is ideal because you obviously cannot reach anything from the side that is attached to the structure.

These are not hard and fast rules, mind you. Some people have a longer reach than others and, so, they can most likely handle wider beds.

Length

As far as the length is concerned, it can be anything you’re comfortable with and depends clearly on how much space is available. Having said that, let me outline a couple of important things for you to take into account.

If you’re a beginner or watching the budget , choosing a smaller garden bed is a better option because it costs less not only to build or buy but also to fill with soil mix because you won’t need as much.

A beginner would also find it much easier to manage a smaller garden than a larger one. A good size for a beginner is 4 foot wide by 6 foot long which will provide 24 square feet of space in which to to grow your favorite vegetables.

Moreover, if the raised bed is too long and has been constructed from wood, the sides may buckle from the sheer weight of the soil. Therefore, you will need to brace them with metal spikes or some other method if you’re building your own bed. On the other hand, many vendors nowadays provide their own devices with their kits if you’re buying the bed.

Beds made from natural stone or bricks should not experience any bowing problems if they are built properly.

Height

The type of plants you intend to grow will determine the height of the sides of your raised bed garden. For example, vegetables like lettuce, herbs or spinach that have shallow roots will do fine in about 6 inches deep soil. On the other hand, vegetables such as squash, broccoli and tomatoes with their deep roots require about 20 inches deep soil. And then, you’ve got the “in-between” vegetables like carrots, peas and beets that need 8-12 inches deep soil.

So, as you can see, there is a wide range but there is no need to complicate things. Let’s say you decide to plant carrots, peas and lettuce for your first bed. In that case, the sides of your bed will be 12 inches (30cm) tall.

Again, these measurements are not etched in stone and, so, feel free to adjust them slightly if needed. More importantly, make sure that the vegetables that you plant together have compatible water and fertilizer needs. Believe me, it’s less hassle.

One last thing. Raised bed gardens can be just about any shape you want. They can be octagonal, square, rectangular or triangular. L-Shaped or T-Shaped. Just remember one of the key aspects of raised bed gardening and that is easy access to plants from all sides so that you don’t have to step into the bed and compact the soil.

Having a raised bed garden is extremely rewarding and. no doubt, it will serve you well for years to come. Basically, the only work you will have to do each season is to lightly turn over the soil of the bed and start planting. And you won’t have to weed as much as in a “conventional garden” either, saving you precious time and effort.

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