The DIY raised vegetable garden, made of wood or masonry, offers the necessary space to grow all types of vegetables, both in the garden and on the terrace.
What is a raised bed garden
L’raised vegetable gardenalso known as a square vegetable garden, is a cultivation system created inside a structure raised above the ground and divided into squares.
It is a very convenient solution that allows you to grow all types of vegetables and at the same time beautify them outdoor spaces.
Seedlings in raised bed garden from Getty Images
The raised vegetable garden, in fact, adapts to any type of need, can be customized and placed both in the garden and in smaller external areas such as the terrazzo or the balcony.
What are the advantages of the raised garden
I advantages of a raised vegetable garden they are different and concern both the methods and the quality of cultivation. In general, the raised garden allows you to have greater control over the plants, their growth and the quality of the soil and allows for a targeted use of resources.
First of all, vegetables and plants are not grown directly in the ground and therefore it is possible to choose the soil more suitable for different crops. In this way, you will avoid using soil that has been previously treated, for example with pesticides.
Raised vegetable garden cultivation from Getty Images
A second advantage is undoubtedly the fact that this type of vegetable garden takes up little space. Since the structure is customizable, you can also choose the size and number of tiles based on it space available.
Furthermore, since it is a high surface, it physical effort during cultivation it will be reduced, also making the work easier.
What materials for the raised garden
As regards the materials to be used, the raised vegetable garden can be created mainly with gods wooden pallets or in masonry.
In the first case, the solution is undoubtedly eco friendly and rather economical, while the brick vegetable garden is the best option for creating dry stone walls.
Raised vegetable garden with wooden pallets from Getty Images
In addition to these two most widely used materials, the raised vegetable garden is also becoming increasingly popular lately Cutwhich offers very great resistance to atmospheric agents and which, over time, acquires a worn rather than deteriorated appearance.
Furthermore, Corten does not require much maintenance and allowsvery easy and quick installation.
Raised vegetable garden in Corten from Cuadra
For those interested in Corten, from Block they arrive customized solutions both in the shape and thickness of the sheet metal of the boxes.
The Corten structures are supplied without any oxidation, an operation which is carried out only after installation.
Where to place the raised garden?
The position of the raised vegetable garden must be determined based on your needs, considering that it will be complicated to move the garden later.
In general, the chosen area must be easy to access and above all in a very sunny area of the garden or terrace. Finally, it is very important to choose an area close to a water supplyto make watering the garden easier.
How tall should a raised bed garden be?
One of the most frequent questions when deciding to create a raised garden concerns the height of the installation. Also in this case, the height of the garden It strictly depends on personal needs.
Generally speaking, it is advisable to opt for aheight between 40 and 70 cmso as not to bend your back too much and make the work less tiring.
How to build a raised garden with wooden pallets
To build a raised vegetable garden with wooden structureyou will need to have:
- Pallet in good condition;
- 4 Wooden beamsas long as the side of the pallet, which will act as feet for the vegetable garden;
- Viti for the boards and beams;
- Geotextile fabric water resistant to be placed on the bottom of the vegetable garden;
- Of the soil;
- Drill for drilling, screwdriver drill, saw.
Here’s how to proceed. Once dismantled the palletsyou will need to remove the screws that hold the boards together.
Then, we will proceed to measure and mark the beams to obtain the desired length. At this point, we will build the base of the garden placing the cut beams as feet, each on each corner.
Wooden raised bed garden from Amazon
Now, you will need to put more pallets upright, attaching them to the beams. Then, it will be possible to install the geotextile fabric on the bottom, cutting a piece large enough to cover the entire base of the garden. Finally, you can fill the garden with chosen soil.
How to build a raised garden in masonry
If you prefer to build a raised garden with bricks or concrete blocks, it will be essential to obtain, together with bricks:
- Expanded clay or gravel;
- A wire mesh or alternatively geotextile fabric;
- Of the soil;
- A trowel or a spatula.
Once we have obtained all the necessary material, we will proceed to measure and mark the dimensions of our vegetable garden on the ground, also considering the size of the bricks.
Masonry raised vegetable garden from Getty Images
Then, it will sort of dig trench along the perimeter that we have marked, obtaining a depth of approximately 15-20 cm, as a base for the bricks or blocks. Subsequently, it will be necessary to level the ground in the trench, making it uniform, and then place the geotextile fabric on the bottom.
Now, we will build the walls by placing the bricks or blocks on the trench, one next to the other, up to aheight of 50 cm. The walls obtained must be fixed and made stable with a mortar mixture.
Now that we have created the masonry structure, we will be able to fill the garden with soil without first placing a layer of expanded clay or gravel on the base, until the entire fabric is filled.
What to plant in the raised bed garden
The raised garden offers very profitable cultivation, since the soil will be much more fertile than that of a home gardenas it is not trampled.
Yitahome raised bed garden from Amazon
Given that in this type of structure it is possible to plant every type of vegetablehowever, it must be noted that some crops are more suitable than others: radishes, spinach, lettuces, onions and carrots, for example, will grow particularly well in the raised garden, with excellent results, together with all the aromatic plants.
Maintenance of the raised garden
Once you have created a complete vegetable garden, it will be important to think carefully about its maintenance. First, it will be essential to perform a good one irrigationpossibly choosing a drip system capable of bringing water directly to the roots of the seedlings.
Finally, to keep the garden in good health and obtain excellent results, both thecultivated area than the surrounding space, in the garden or on the terrace.
Ready raised raised vegetable garden
For those who want to buy one ready structure for the raised vegetable garden, on the virtual emporium of Amazon several options are available.
I Stainless steel boxes for branded raised vegetable gardens Hometownfor example, offer very large spaces for plant growth.
The boxes are also very safe and are equipped with 4 corner protectors for greater safety when working in the garden.
Finally, quality and robustness ensure excellent durability over time and resistance to all weather conditions, while the open base avoids any type of water accumulation, protecting the plants from root diseases.
Source: www.lavorincasa.it