Raised garden beds do not have to be a huge construction project or expensive.
photo credit: SDCDeaCerte

I have used cement blocks, bricks, stone, old doorways, and old boxes.  When using any old found materials check for stains and paints that could be harmful to the soil.

Cement blocks warm up quickly so you can plant some of your crops earlier. You can also plant small plants in the holes in the blocks. I have planted herbs or flowers in the holes with much success. It looks nice and if you chose the right plants you can practice organic pest control.

If you take on a bigger project and build wood boxes for the raised beds just make sure you use unstained wood. It will have to be replaced in a few years but weatherized wood leaches chemicals into the soil and may affect your plants!

My one friend used old plates for an artistic garden art look. I have also seen bowling balls used.

One year I tried straw bales. It worked well but I had the expense of the bales.  The advantage was I had great mulching material at the end of the season.

My favorite and most fun raised beds, really container gardening, is the use of bushel baskets. In the fall I collect bushel baskets at sales, farm stands or auctions. It doesn’t matter if they are a little beat up.

When planting time comes around I get the baskets up and fill them with the composted fresh soil I have made during the winter.

What I like about planting in bushel baskets is that I can chose theme baskets, move the baskets around or place them artistically around the yard or by the door as a mini garden.

The other big plus it that as much as I like gardening I do not like digging up root crops. Using the bushel baskets I can harvest root crops by placing a sheet or plastic near the basket and just turning it over and shaking out the comtents. MY crop is harvested in seconds and I haul the used soil back to the compost pile to be re-conditioned!

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There are many advantages to raised bed gardening.

photo credit: Living in Monrovia

• It’s easier on your back. Raised beds can be a little as six inches high  to as high as  three to four feet. Beds this high usually are in banks or on tables.
• It’s easier to control larger garden pests such as rabbits, ground hogs and other wild animals that cause crop damage and plant disease.
• You can cover an area in record time to protect crops from cold winds, frosts or from the sun or insects by attaching posts to the sides or leaving areas where pipes or posts can be inserted. Using this method I can cover my garden if need be in a matter of minutes.
• You can lay out interesting garden designs. Try different  patterns or  a circular wheel where the center of the garden has a bench or watering stand.
• Many raised beds use the Square Foot Gardening method or rotating crops for better space usage. By removing crops and covering the area with mulch you can keep the area ready to plant at any time and improve the soil at the same time. I often do this for an early pea crop, lettuce which I plant several times during the season and other short season crops.
• Watering can be simplified and you will use less water by only applying it to the areas that need it.
• The soil warms up faster in a raised bed garden meaning you can plant earlier. By covering an area with black plastic you can further speed the soils temperature. Planting can be moved up by a couple of weeks.
• Mowing around a raised bed garden is easier.
• You can work one small part of a garden at a time and not feel overwhelmed if you have a large garden.
  

Disadvantages to a Raised Bed Garden

• Raised beds dry out faster so will use more water. I have found that by watering well at the beginning of the season and applying a heavy mulch I can remedy the problem. I also use a deep watering method for plants and crops that like a lot of water like cucumbers.
• Planning and building raised beds.

Any disadvantages can be easily overcome. For raised beds you do not have to build a garden frame if you don’t want.

You can also use a variety of found items to use as frames. Bushel baskets, old boxes, wheel barrel, etc.. These item can add fun and become a focal point to your garden and backyard.

Check out Creative Raised Beds

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