Raised beds offer the best way to control soil composition and drainage

By JOE LAMP’L

I’m often asked about gardening in raised beds. It’s one of the best ways to grow productive and healthy plants and given the option, I’d choose raised beds every time.

I attribute much of the success experienced on the set of Fresh from the Garden to building raised beds for the vegetables I grew. They allow for better control of drainage, the opportunity to create custom soil conditions, a defined planting area, and a more user friendly work area, just to name a few of the benefits.

Although raised beds can be as simple as mounding up soil into a deep wide planting area, I’ll address those with physical borders for this discussion. Here are some things to consider when building your own:

Material

Anything to retain the soil works, from scrap concrete to lumber to railroad ties, etc. Even composite wood, made of recycled plastic and wood fiber are becoming more popular.

I prefer non-treated, rot resistant lumber such as cedar. Pressure treated wood is less expensive and readily available but there is some debate around the safety of its use, especially if using these beds for edibles.

Height

I have had excellent success with beds that are 12″ tall. This gives plant roots a great environment for expansion and growth. However, a 6″ bed height is adequate if your soil is well amended. Some raised beds are even a back saving waist high to minimize bending over. As long as the soil is well amended, anything over 6″ is a bonus.

Length and width

When building raised beds, length is completely optional and limited primarily to your physical space. Width on the other hand is more important. Beds should be wide enough to allow for at least two rows of plants. Three rows are desirable in many cases. However, don’t make the bed too wide to prevent being able to reach into the center.

All the beds on the Fresh from the Garden set were 12’ long and 3’ wide. The plants grew well and I was always able to plant at least two rows across. However, I think a bed that is 4’ wide is ideal and provides even more planting options.

Other considerations

When using flexible material such as lumber, the pressure of the soil will cause the wood to bow out. You should provide staking half way down the length and secure the wood to it to prevent this outward bowing.

If using wood, build the frame so that the wood grain on all boards is facing inward. Otherwise, they may pull away and curve toward the outside as the wood dries and weathers. Not only is this unsightly, it can pull the screws or nails out as well, making your beds less secure.

Speaking of screws, I prefer them over nails for securing the wood. Screws are forgiving if you make a mistake but be sure to use all weather wood screws with a length of at least 3″. To prevent splitting, it is a good idea to drill pilot holes first; especially towards the ends of each piece.

Pre-made kits are now readily available that include connecting joints and hinges so you can configure your bed shape and height just about anyway you’d like. These devices make bed setup a snap and no construction is required. When it comes to simplicity for raised bed construction, these kits are ideal. You can find them through many catalog and mail order garden supply companies.

If you really want to have a beautiful and productive garden, give raised beds a try. They’ve never been easier to make and the advantages for you and your plants are numerous. Even better, they’ll be there waiting on you season after season. What could be easier?