5 Clever Hacks When Building a Raised Garden Bed

Create the raised garden bed of your dreams with these easy hacks!

Photo: Holder Design Associates

Spring is just around the corner, which means you might be feeling that itch to get back outside. Warm weather and clear blue skies make being outside so much more enjoyable, and you might even be encouraged to start an outdoor hobby. This is the time when many people decide to start gardening. Gardening is a great way to try something new, hone a skill and spend time outdoors all at once. If you live in a rented space or a community with lots of housing rules, you know this can be a challenge.

Determined gardeners have found that even when they can’t dig into their own yard, raised garden beds work just as well to grow everything from flowers to fruits. How your garden bed works is all about how you plan it out before you start, so check out some clever hacks you should consider before you build your raised garden bed this spring.

1. Plan Your Irrigation System First

Irrigation is key to having a successful garden. You might think you’ll be able to get outside and water your plants regularly, but they’ll require more water as the days grow hotter, and you might have a busy schedule. Instead of leaving your watering up to chance, think about installing an irrigation system like a drip hose. It’ll water your plants slowly throughout the day without raising your water bill too much.

2. Think About a Root Barrier

Even raised garden beds sometimes fall victim to the inevitable weeds that will find their way into your plants. You can prevent these without using harsh chemicals by putting a root barrier at the bottom of your garden bed before you shovel in the soil. Old squares of carpet or a rug work wonders to prevent weeds and roots from wreaking havoc in your garden bed.

3. Compost in Your Garden Bed

Composting is becoming more popular these days as people become more concerned about going green to help the Earth. You can compost without having to get your hands dirty by using your raised garden bed. You can learn the dig and drop composting method in minutes and use it as soon as your garden bed is finished.

4. Try to Solarize Your Soil

Another way to avoid the chemicals in insecticides is to solarize your soil. It’s easy to learn and you can do it over any sized garden bed. Just lay a plastic tarp over your bare soil for a few weeks when it’s warm outside to heat the soil and kill any pests in it. Then it’ll be safe for planting whatever you’d like to grow.

5. Build Your Borders

There are tons of different types of borders you can create to raise your garden bed. Some require no tools, like laying logs or sandbags. While others will require a little more work and tools. If you have an air compressor, this is a great time to whip out your nail gun and quickly put up those four walls so you can get your garden on. If you do plan on using an air compressor, just make sure to abide by these safety tips.

Building a raised garden bed doesn’t have to be difficult. Like most things, it’s easiest if you spend some time planning ahead for what you want to make. Think about things like weed barriers and solarizing soil, and don’t forget to take care of whatever equipment you might use. You’ll find that your raised garden bed gets put together faster than you thought, and soon you’ll have a blooming garden you can be proud of.