How to Make Raised Garden Beds

A few years ago we rented a tiller and made a 20x30 foot garden area. Our soil is extremely rocky, and we spent plenty of time just trying to dig deep enough to grow carrots and potatoes. When we planted, we realized that our soil was almost impossible to grow anything in. It was too rocky and was lacking in nutrients.

We decided to try raised garden beds instead. We took logs to outline exactly where we wanted our plants to go. Instead of one big garden, we made nine sections. One 10x10 foot bed and eight 4X10 foot beds. This is best for growing healthy plants. We would not have to worry about companion planting, since everything we planted would have their own section, free from other plants competing for water.

The first thing we had to do was figure out how to fortify the soil. But with all the rocks, that would be just one more additional thing to do. This would have been a huge time waster. Instead we purchased four yards of compost to fill out the beds. This way we would not have to till anything.

Most cities have a composting collection facility. They gather yards scraps, and debris from city residents. This is made into compost and is excellent for any garden. It is about $15.00 a cubic yard. We spread it into the garden beds.

We also mixed sand into the compost. This can be purchased at any lumber store. It was $8.00 for 800 pounds. Mixing sand with the compost aerates the soil. Keeping it light instead of weighed down. Making sure that water will properly drain and the plants can stay hydrated, without the worry of puddlings. Without good water drainage, one heavy downpour could drown and kill the plants.

We also tested our soil. A soil tester can be purchased at any home and garden store. It lets you know what minerals are lacking in your soil. If you have any problems they can be easily fixed by purchasing specific fertilizer that contains the minerals needed for rich, healthy soil.

After thoroughly mixing all of it together, the garden was ready for planting. Other than having an unusually rainy summer and having to continually pick weeds, we had a very good harvest.

So even though you might not have the best soil, you always have the option to use garden beds. You can place them anywhere you have the extra space in your yard, while not having to worry about digging or tilling.