Gardening: How to Build a Raised Garden Bed

How To Build A Garden Bed

 

You may want to add a bedding area to your garden for several reasons. Flowers and plants can make a garden really pop, adding colour and texture. Some bedding flowers and plants, such as lavender, honeysuckle and sweet pea, also create lovely scents as you go through the garden.

Of course, flowers and plants are great for attracting bees and other pollinators, so you’re doing your bit to help nature out, too! Raised garden beds are also ideal to grow vegetables in if you’re stuck for space or want to keep everything in one neat area.

But adding soil and foliage to a garden which is otherwise clean, finished and tidy can be off-putting. You don’t want to have to sweep soil back into a flower patch every day. Not to worry – a raised bed will not only keep the soil contained and stop it spilling onto your patio, but it will also be easier to reach with no kneeling required.

Raised beds are also better if you have other high areas to your garden, such as decking, as it means everything flows throughout. Luckily, raised garden beds are easy to build if you’re looking for a simple DIY project to undertake. Transform your garden, pick up a new hobby and help wildlife by filling your raised bed with a few plants and flowers!

 

What you need to build a raised bed

The great thing about raised beds is that they have a big impact but are inexpensive and easy to DIY. You just need some timbers and garden soil and you’re good to go. Pressure treated wood should be used, which is rot resistant and protected against decay and pests.

Hiring your tools from Speedy Services also means you get the best tools for a quality finish, without having to store them afterwards.

You will need:

• Timber, such as softwood sleepers
• Weed membrane
• Spirit level
• Measuring tape
• Drill
• Coach screws
• Timber sleeper corner brackets (optional)

 

Before you begin

Prepare the area you will be building the raised bed on. It needs to be flat and level to ensure stability. Your timber frame should also be flush to the ground so no soil escapes, keeping your flowers or vegetables stable.

Dig out any turf that would sit below the raised bed. You don’t want grass growing up through. Treat the area for weeds a week or so before building your raised bed, too. If you want to be on the safe side, we advise lining the area with a weed membrane.

• SPEEDY TOP TIP! Raised beds are great if the soil in your garden is clay-like or low quality and you don’t want to get rid of it all to replace with compost.

You can also add a wooden raised bed to patio stones, say if you only have a yard outside and want a vegetable garden. Again, we’d advise placing some form of lining down between the flagstones and the raised bed which will keep your patio clean if you ever move the bed.

 

How to create a raised bed in your garden

Measure the area you want your raised bed to be, so you know which length timber sleepers to buy. Also think about height – something with large roots will need very deep soil so you will need wide sleepers. You may need to double up on timbers to increase height.

Always wear the correct PPE when carrying out any DIY task. For this job, some gloves and safety goggles will be needed.

 

Step 1: Choose desired timber size

Choose your desired timber size, you can buy different lengths of timber / sleepers already pre-cut or you can get them cut to size by your local supplier.

 

Step 2: Lay the timbers

Position your wood in its rough frame shape and check they are all level using your spirit level. Adjust the ground if needed. Using your tape measure, check there is even spacing between each end, so your bed is perfectly square or rectangular.

 

Step 3: Connect the timbers

Once everything is in place, drill through the end timbers into the adjacent pieces using your long, heavy duty coach screws. You should have one screw at the top and one at the bottom as a minimum. Continue until all four pieces are affixed, checking everything remains level as you go.

 

Step 4: Increase the height

Most people will need something deeper than one timber width high. Research what you’re planting to see if it will form a deep root. If so, you need a lot of soil.

Arrange the next set of timbers and repeat step 3 to attach them together before lifting on to the top of the existing frame. Everything should remain stable once filled with soil, but if you want to be extra cautious, fix the top timbers to the base timbers with timber railway sleeper corner brackets.

Repeat this step if you need even more height.

 

Step 5: Fill your garden bed

Your bed is almost ready! Now to fill it. Think about drainage firstly. You may need to place items at the base if you need good drainage.

Try to avoid rocks and rubble as this can just hold excess moisture. Old wood is better (or even wood chips), or any clumpy soil you’ve removed from elsewhere in the garden. Ask neighbours and friends if they’re getting rid of any to save them a trip to the recycling centre!

How deep is your raised bed? It could be expensive to fill completely with good quality compost, so don’t be afraid to add garden waste or organic matter such as grass clippings, dry leaves, or trimmings from other plants, at the bottom. Then, use topsoil.

As these break down over time, your bed will lose height, but buying fresh compost every year to use as topsoil is more cost efficient than buying loads of bags at the start of your journey. Carefully think about the soil type you need, as well. Vegetables will need plenty of nutrients.

Now add your plants or vegetables, completely covering the plant roots. Ensure everything has enough room to thrive for years to come. And congratulations – you have just built a raised bed!

 

Is there power tool hire near me?

Yes. At Speedy Services, with over 3000 professional quality tools which will help get the job done quicker and to a higher finish, without having to buy and store new tools. Speedy has more than 200 service centres across the nation, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery.

Open a Speedy account today online or instore to continue your DIY journey.

 

Ready for more DIY tips and ideas?

What are you building next? For more tips and ideas on how to refresh your home and garden, have a look through our step-by-step guides on everything from decorating to landscaping.

*Image by Andreas Göllner from Pixabay