Raised garden beds are a great way to grow your own food, and they can help you overcome poor soil conditions. They’re also economical if you make them yourself from readily available materials. You can use landscape blocks or pavers to build a raised garden bed that’s attractive as well as practical. Here’s how.
Dig your foundation.
We recommend using landscape blocks for your base. They are easy to install, come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and give your raised garden bed a more polished look.
If you decide to use them, dig holes for each block with a shovel. Dig up the soil around the hole with a spade; this will allow you to set each block level with the surface of your ground before filling it back in with dirt and gravel.
Determine the size and shape of your raised garden bed.
Before you can start building your raised garden bed, you will need to determine the size and shape of your bed. The size and shape of your raised garden bed will depend on the size of your garden and the space available in your yard.
The height of your raised bed will depend on what plants you want to grow in it. If all of the plants are very tall, then it might be necessary to dig a foundation for the beds (see step #5). For smaller plants such as strawberries or tomatoes, there is no need for a foundation because they don’t require much depth to grow in soil or compost rich mediums like coco coir fiber made from coconut husks or peat moss.
Lay in the base course of block.
Lay in the base course of block.
- Lay the block on its side, with the flat side facing up.
- Place two rows beside each other, making sure they are straight and square to each other.
- Adjust them to make sure they are level with one another. If necessary, adjust by adding small amounts of soil below or removing soil from above until all bases are level with one another and there is no chance for them to shift during use.
Lay a second course of block.
To lay your second course of block, start by laying them on top of the first course. Make sure they are level with each other and level with the ground. If you have a problem with any one of these things, stop and check your measurements before continuing.
Your goal is to create a staggered pattern with the joints between each course of block. The easiest way to do this is by making sure that each joint in one row lines up with an empty space in another row (see picture).
You may find it easier to measure if you place a 4×4 stake along one edge where there are no blocks yet laid down. Mark where it sits on top of your soil surface so that you know exactly how high off of the ground those stakes should go when they’re pushed into place later on!
Lay any remaining courses of block.
Lay the remaining courses of block in a pattern that will create the shape you want. Leave room for soil to fill in between each course, and don’t overfill if you want your raised garden bed to be sturdy. Use a level to check if your blocks are perfectly level with one another—if they aren’t, use some extra soil to fill in the gaps.
Backfill around the block with soil or gravel.
The next step involves backfilling around the block with soil or gravel. If you’ve used large landscape blocks and have a flat surface, you can use small shovels to fill in any gaps. However, if your raised bed is more curved or uneven than this tutorial describes, you might need to use a tamping tool instead of a small shovel. A tamper will compact the soil evenly around each block and create an even base for planting vegetables and flowers in an organized fashion.
Use a garden hose to test for drainage before laying out raised beds on grass or other surfaces
Fill with soil and begin planting.
Once you’ve constructed your raised garden bed with landscape blocks, it’s time to fill it with soil. The best time of year for planting depends on where you live and what type of plants you’d like to grow. If you’re planting your garden in the spring or summer, wait until after danger of frost has passed before filling up the bed. If fall is more what you have in mind, feel free to get started as soon as the ground has thawed out completely (but before any snowstorms). For winter-hardier plants, consider starting seeds indoors earlier in the season and transplanting them outside once temperatures are safe for full growth. As far as what kind of soil goes into this new raised bed? Well, there are many options available! You can purchase bagged potting mix at most large box stores or garden centers; alternatively, if there’s a compost pile nearby (or just some rich compostable materials), try digging into that instead! Even though natural materials will add some extra nutrients back into your soil over time (as well as reduce our dependence on chemical fertilizers), they won’t provide nearly enough carbon dioxide exchange capacity compared to lightweight commercial mixes sold commercially. The next step involves filling up each empty space within your new raised bed area using whatever combination works best from above: rocks from around lakebeds may provide an attractive focal point amidst otherwise drab surroundings while providing necessary drainage properties; sand might provide better aeration without adding too much weight down near buried roots; charcoal tends not only keep odors away but also helps retain moisture content for longer periods between watering cycles. Finally – after all these preparations – it’s time to plant.
Raised garden beds are easy to make with landscape blocks, and they can save you money.
Raised garden beds are easy to make with landscape blocks, and they can save you money.
Raised beds are perfect for those who want to grow their own food without the backbreaking labor of traditional gardening. Raised bed gardens are built with wood or plastic landscaping blocks, which make it easier to maintain than a traditional garden. They can be built in any shape or size, making it possible to fit them into small spaces like your patio or balcony. If you have poor soil where you live, consider building a raised bed that will improve its drainage and fertility by layering it with compost and other organic material.
You don’t need much space at all to enjoy the benefits of having your own vegetable garden—even if all you have is a small backyard or patio area available for growing plants! Even beginners can build their own raised beds as long as they use proper techniques when laying out their plans first; this way they’ll know how much material will be needed beforehand so there won’t be any surprises later down the road when everything comes together perfectly.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve built your raised garden bed, it’s time to plant. You can plant directly from seed or transplant seedlings into the bed as soon as the last frost has passed (as long as you have not used pressure-treated wood). Consult your local nursery for advice about which plants grow best in your area. Happy planting
