How to Build a Raised Vegetable Bed: Choosing the Wood and the Sizes
For a vegetable bed whose soil warms early, that is easy to tend and lasts for years, we explain the wood, the sizes and the order of work.
A raised vegetable bed is a growing area where the soil is held above the ground inside a timber frame. In spring its soil warms earlier, it drains water better and it lets you tend it without bending. Especially on uplands like Yozgat, where spring comes late, it can bring the sowing season forward by a few weeks. In this guide we explain how to choose the wood for a raised vegetable bed and how to build it step by step.
Sizes: width first
The most important size is the width. You must be able to reach the middle of the bed from both sides, so keeping the width to about one metre lets you work without stepping on the soil. The length is free and follows the size of your garden; but in very long beds, placing a cross tie in the middle keeps the side boards from bowing out under the pressure of the soil. For height, 30–40 centimetres is enough for most vegetables; people with knee trouble may prefer a taller bed.
Choosing the wood
The boards of the bed are in constant contact with damp soil, the hardest condition for wood. An untreated board rots within a few seasons and the bed falls apart. That is why using impregnated timber lets the bed last for years. It also matters not to choose boards that are too thin; a thick board resists the pressure of the soil better and decays later.
Corner stakes
Square or round stakes are placed in the four corners, tying the boards together and set some way into the ground. In long beds a stake is also added in the middle of each side board. For this job you can use a treated fence post or a short turned pole; both are protected to withstand contact with the ground.
Building it step by step
- Choose a sunny spot for the bed where water does not pool, and level the ground.
- Drive in the corner stakes, screw the bottom row of boards to them and check the level.
- Add a second row of boards if needed, staggering the joints against the row below.
- If moles or mice are a problem, lay a fine wire mesh on the base.
- You can line the inner faces with a water-permeable garden fabric to reduce direct contact with the soil.
Soil layers
At the very bottom of the bed go thick branches and brushwood, then coarse compost and leaves, and on top a mix of sieved garden soil and mature compost. These layers settle over time; at the end of the first year some soil must be added to the top layer. The coarse material at the bottom both improves drainage and reduces the amount of soil needed to fill the bed.
Care and service life
At the end of every season, check the outer faces of the boards and brush preservative onto places that were cut or drilled later. Make sure water does not collect at the foot of the bed. With this simple care, a bed made of impregnated wood is used for many years. You can send the boards, stakes and quantities you need with the quote form.