Raised beds to build furniture – 15 ideas from different materials

Do you want to dramatically increase your garden’s yield? Raised beds can help. They are relatively simple: soil is built up inside a retaining wall, which improves soil quality, makes weeds easier to control, and reduces strain during garden work. Experienced gardeners use raised beds to grow vegetables, but they can also display ornamental plants. Because you control the construction, you can choose a purely utilitarian design or create an elegant garden feature. Raised beds should be at least 8 inches deep and filled with rich soil. A useful starting mix is one-third well-rotted manure or compost and two-thirds garden soil. Make any additional soil amendments before filling the bed. Raised beds should be no more than 1.22 meters wide, so you can reach every part without stepping into them. Before building, prepare the ground so weeds do not grow through from below. Here are several ideas for building reinforced raised beds. Stay with us and follow these practical tips.

Building Raised Flower Beds – Tips and Materials

You can enclose raised beds quickly with simple lumber. Wood is easy to work with and affordable, but in most cases the sides will need to be renewed about every five years.

Raised Garden Bed Edging – Cedar or Redwood Boards

Cedar and redwood boards are ideal for raised beds because they are durable and naturally resistant to weather and pests. Beds made from these woods last longer than beds made from many softwoods.

Wattle

Use long stakes and thin willow branches woven between them to form a wall. Set the stakes into the ground about 45 cm apart. When the wall is about 25 cm high, bend several 5 cm-thick branches into an inverted "U" and insert the ends into the soil to anchor the wall. Line the inside with paper or canvas to keep soil from escaping.

Bricks or Concrete Blocks

Because bricks and concrete blocks are small and rectangular, raised-bed walls are easy to build with them. They are simple to handle, easy to install, and useful where space is limited. Many gardeners prefer masonry edging for this reason.

Sandbags

Like bricks, sandbags are slim and easy to handle. Stack two layers of sandbags on top of each other and you can quickly build a raised-bed wall.

Logs and Stumps

Straight tree trunks, about 30 cm in diameter, are perfect for natural raised-bed walls. Trunks and thick branches can also be used for irregular walls if you want to give your beds a more organic shape and add interest to the garden.

Bales of Hay

Small bales of hay are large and wide enough to form raised-bed walls, and they can also provide a resting place for tired gardeners. They break down fairly quickly, so these beds need to be rebuilt after a few years. Stored hay also makes good mulch.

Jute Bags

Fill large jute bags with soil and let them stand freely. Cut slots in the top and plant whatever you like.

The ideas above have probably already convinced you that raised beds in the garden are simple in concept, yet they can make your garden more productive and versatile. They can be built in very simple forms or made from refined materials that will last for many years. In every case, they make gardening easier and improve the overall look of the landscape. Follow our advice, give your imagination free rein, and design raised beds that suit your garden’s style.

And here is one more practical tip from our editors:
If your plan allows it, attach a narrow strip to the edge of the raised bed wall. It creates a convenient ledge for tools and other garden equipment.

We wish you many pleasant hours of physical work and mental relaxation in your garden!