Easy Way & Materials Needed For Constructing Cheap Raised Garden Bed
Raised beds are the best and convenient way to make the most out of the garden. With good drainage system, protection from weeds and many pests, besides that the good soil perfectly blended to help the growth, raised beds are the best choice for those having limited space, soil as well as sunlight restrictions. The beauty of the raised garden bed is that it is very cheap and easy to build. The wood and rebar are available at low cost, if the user is using untreated pine planks, then the entire building process can take less than an hour.
Material Needed
The materials that are needed in order to build a 4 by 8 raised garden bed are mentioned below:
- Two 2 by 12 planks, each 8 feet long and Two 2 by 12 planks, each 4 feet long.
- 12 pieces of rebar, each should be 2 feet long.
- A rubber mallet.
- Newspaper or cardboard and soil to fill the finished frame.
Steps
- Position The Boards: On a level flat ground, lay the boards down with the inner corners touching. Stand one of the longboards on its side, and with the help of a rubber mallet, hammer 2 pieces of rebar at least one foot from each of the corner, a few inches deep down into the ground.
- Short Sides: At the center of each use a piece of rebar for the temporary support. Next, the user needs to, stand up the second long side and at the same time adjust the alignment of the frame as necessary. Then hammer the rebar few inches deep and one foot from each corner of the second long side.
- More Support: Hammer down the rebar a few inches deep a foot from each of the corners of the short sides and then remove all the temporary supports. Add 2 pieces of rebar at 2 feet apart along each of the long sides. This will reinforce and make the frame strong when it is filled with soil. Then hammer the rebar until it goes down and 6 to 10 inches are exposed above ground.
- Fill It: Line the bottom of the frame with newspaper or simply cardboard and wet it thoroughly. At last, fill the bed with soil within a few inches of the top.
Alternatives
- Wattle: One of the alternative is to weave a frame with long and flexible sticks. The kids will be happy in collecting them, and the results are worthy.
- Logs: If the user has recently cleared a tree, logs can be very much cost-effective material. Choose the logs that are straight enough and at least one foot in diameter.
- Concrete Blocks: The other option is to Place the blocks with open ends which provide an extra growing room. The user can grow herbs as well as decorative flowers into the cavities.