After we built our first raised garden bed, we enjoyed it so much, we bought another kit and joined them together to create an L-shaped garden. I think it looks lovely! Along the way, we learned a few tips for an incredible raised garden bed. Here’s our experience and what we’d do differently to make this gardening project come together easily and look great in your yard!
Tips for an incredible raised garden bed
I’d like to thank my husband, our resident farmer, for the hard work he put into prepping, digging, building, and planting. He certainly knows how to make a garden come together. I’m just the visionary. Or maybe more like the host of that show Restaurant Impossible, who just runs around giving orders… I’m not as mean, though!
I’ve had a lot of readers express interest in creating their own garden this summer, so if you’re thinking you’d like to make a raised garden bed, here’s a few tips from us (since we’re now experts and all!).
Go for a raised garden bed kit
Depending on your skill level and time / budget constraints, the precut raised garden bed kits are the way to go! Kits take the headache out of most of the supply gathering process and give you that small win of being able to start your project immediately.
Utilize a tarp
This one might sound strange, but hubby says he wishes he’d used tarps while he worked. He says it would’ve lessened the struggle with chopping up the turf/grass. So…. If you’re digging up turf, put down a tarp a week or two ahead to soften up the dirt and kill the grass so it will be easier to chop the turf off the ground.
Measure, measure, measure
Measure out your proposed garden area and mark off the projected garden space with twine wrapped around nails stuck in the ground – this ensures your garden bed kit will fit in your space. Especially if you’re not custom building to fit – you really need to know how your kit bed will fit the space ahead of time.
Watch the sun
Also, before placing your garden, watch the spot for a few days and track how many hours of sun the site gets. You need a garden space with at least 6 hours of sun at the bare minimum (more is better!!).
Watch out for critters
Be aware of your natural enemies like deer, rabbits, woodchucks and other “freeloaders” that might come through hunting for tender green plants! Have a plan for dealing with pests, whether you use fencing, noisemakers, scent deterrents etc.
These tips for an incredible raised garden bed will get your garden up and growing in no time at all! Here’s an aerial shot of our new gardens:
Now, I’m ready to tackle my NEXT outdoor project: adding more plants and flowers to the beds as well as setting up our tomato cages!
Get all your raised garden bed gear online:
Best Value Cedar Raised Garden Bed Planter 24Best Value 3-Tier Cedar Raised Garden Bed Planter 48
VeraCasa Raised Vegetable Garden Bed Kit w/Drainer | 100% Weather-Resistant Plastic | Easy-Maintenance Outdoor Elevated Planter Box for Beginners (Black & White)
Easy Gardener 21041MJ 3-Foot by 50-Foot 15 Year Landscape Fabric
Espoma PTM8 8-Quart Organic Peat Moss
Organic, Heirloom, Non-GMO, Garden Seeds – 7 Varieties of Vegetable Leafy Power Greens – Arugula, Kale, Lolla Rossa Lettuce, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Gourmet Mix Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard
Aoyoho Hot 100PCS 5 Colors Waterproof Plastic Nursery Garden Labels T-type Plant Tags Markers with Marker Pen
Go2buy Garden Protection Repellent Bird Scarer Natural Enemy Scarecrow Rotating Head Realistic Owl
PESGONE 2x Sonic Mole Repellent Solar Powered Gopher Repellent Ultrasonic Mole Spike Vole Chaser Groundhog Deterrent Rodent Repellant Ultrasonic Pest Control Products for Lawn Garden Yard
What’s your spring outdoor project list looking like?
BEFORE YOU START: What You’ll Need for A Raised Garden Bed
AS YOU BUILD:DIY: Building a Raised Garden Bed
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.