If you are one of those people who love gardening and are interested in trying raised garden beds, then you might be resorting to the use of inexpensive ones that will match your budget. One thing that you should know about raised beds is that, unlike in-ground garden, plants in this type of garden box has a longer growing season.
benefits of raised garden beds
Aside from the longer growing season, a raised garden bed has many benefits that will make gardening easier and more productive. Some of the other benefits that you can get from using a raised garden bed are the following:
no need for extra tilling
Unlike in-ground gardens, raised bed gardens do not require extreme tilling. You do not have to spend hours tending to your own garden bed as it can act as a barrier to pests and weeds. The drainage is also better, making sure that your plants are given enough water even when you place the garden bed in an outdoor area.
you can recycle household wastes and make the soil healthy
With traditional gardening, the nutrients usually seep away from the soil each time you water it. This also gives insects a breeding place. However, with a raised garden bed, you can recycle all household wastes that will act as a fertilizer and attract earthworms, which helps keep the soil healthy.
it is easy to build
It only requires simple construction to create raised bed garden you just need to stack materials into a box shape then fill it with topsoil or fertilized earth packed tightly, after that you can start planting your vegetables, herbs, or whatever plant you desire. However, if you want to have a deeper soil for larger plants you can put in additional planks to increase its depth.
gives plants the optimum temperatures to grow healthy
Since it is above the ground level the raised bed garden will stay warmer during cold temperatures because heat rises from the ground. At the end of summer, there are fewer insects due to the high walls protecting tender plants. There is also less or no need for fertilization as it is not necessary if you use your regular household waste.
With all these benefits in mind, there is no reason for you not to try your garden beds that will also enhance your outdoor space.
inexpensive raised garden bed ideas you can try
One of the ways to save money for your garden to produce more crops is by incorporating raised bed gardens and opting to create DIY raised garden beds. DIY raised garden beds give you the freedom to use any garden bed ideas that you have in mind.
Some of the raised garden bed ideas that you can try are the following:
tiered design
No one wants a messy and unorganized garden. A great idea for this is maximizing the use of your raised bed garden by using the top shelf as the garden bed and use the bottom shelf for any garden supplies. You can also use the other shelf as another raised bed for additional plants. Adding trellis on top is best if you like planting vines.
If you are planning to make a garden bed, then this is among the functional garden bed ideas that you should consider doing.
steel bin raised garden beds
One of the amazing garden bed ideas that you can try is by using a steel bin. These are stock tubs that can create a rustic and polished look in your backyard.
wood raised garden beds
The most typical yet most popular type of raised garden is made of wood. It is the simplest type of garden box that gives your outdoor area a simple and unique style. What you need to do is creating a wood frame that can either be in the shape of a square or rectangle. Simply place it on the ground and start filling it with soil. You can add mulch, like straw bales, on the surface of the soil to keep your plants moist and not easily dry out.
To avoid using all your good soil, you can use compostable items like cardboard and twigs to fill up the bulk needed for your raised bed.
raised garden made of recycled materials
If your place is nearby railroads, you can use old ties that are lying around and use these for a great project for your DIY raised garden. It is a perfect solution if you do not like seeing these ties around your home.
Railroad ties are known for their durability, which means that they cannot be easily dodged and will not degrade on you in a short time. All you need is a heavy-duty saw to cut them according to the dimensions that you like. Once done, your raised bed frame is ready to be filled with your chosen garden soil.
create planters for your small space and plants
If you are not into having a large garden, you can create a planter to grow herbs and small vegetables. You can place this in your backyard, on your patio, or your porch. Another advantage of this DIY raised garden is that you can easily move the planter indoors once the winter starts. This extends the growing season of your plants by weeks.
repurpose or recycle large planters
A tall planter does not have to be used for ornamental plants alone. You can also plant tomatoes that grow healthily from a deep root system. A large planter provides enough space for your tomatoes to grow strong and big. Another big advantage when you plant tomatoes or other vegetables requiring a deep root system is that you get to pick the crops easier since you are not on your knees and hands.
instead of new lumber, use stumps
If someone you know recently cut down a tree, you can ask them if you can use the pieces of the tree trunk. You can bring the pieces of the tree trunk in your yard and have the trunk cut into disks. You just need to stack them up and create a raised bed garden out of the structure. Another idea that you can try is to bring in some friends and help you cut the trunk horizontally and use it as the frame for your raised garden bed. This will enhance the curb appeal of your garden as the trunks will give your home an eco-friendly vibe.
repurposed wood pallets
Wood pallets are easy to come by and you might find any of these on the roadside. You can turn these into a simple narrow raised herb garden that you can mount on a fence or wall. Mounting it on a wall or fence gives a space saving raised garden idea for those without a large garden.
In addition to this, you can place the wood pallet on the ground and make use of the space in between the slats as the dividers for your rows of plants. You can use your creativity to make endless options in using this material for gardening.
diy raised garden bed made with cinder blocks
A cinder block DIY raised garden is among the interesting garden bed ideas that you can try. If you are opting for this, you should prepare the area by cleaning the weeds and levelling the ground beneath.
Once done, you can start arranging the cinder blocks or concrete blocks according to your desired shape. Put one cinder block or concrete block side by side to achieve the width or length that you like and seal it with concrete.
After setting up your raised garden bed, you can fill it up with your chosen soil and plant anything you like. You can also choose to increase the height if you want to avoid kneeling when tending to your growing vegetables, herbs, or flowers.
raised garden bed using corrugated metal
You can also use corrugated metal in making your raised beds. Corrugated metal can also provide a rustic look and can endure any environmental condition. This is because of its galvanized surface. Their surface is galvanized so changing environmental conditions will not damage them. You can choose to decorate it with wood frames, specifically redwood, at the top and bottom to make the entire raised bed safer. Since the edges are sharp, the frames will act as a barrier to keep you safe and at the same a place for sitting.
square foot garden bed
You can choose a raised planter stand for this or you can also keep it on the ground. To make this raised bed, you need to make a square garden box. You can use chicken wire as your guide when planting. For every foot, you can plant different flowers, herbs, or vegetables.
This means you can make a lot of crops and enjoy the growing season seeing all your plants growing healthily. You just need to pick the right plants that will benefit from each other to maximize your yields.
