Directions for a Raised Garden

Overview

Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, raised garden beds remove many of the hassles of gardening. Raised gardens require less frequent weeding and little or no tilling--especially once established. They also extend the gardening season since the soil in beds warms earlier than that in the ground. It's not difficult to build a raised garden with a few supplies found at a garden center.

Step 1

Till your garden space with a rake or rototiller 8 inches deep in a sunny, well-drained spot. Rake through the loose soil to find dislodged rocks and weeds and remove them by hand. Place weeds in a trash container and move rocks to other areas of our yard.

Step 2

Place bricks, pavers, concrete blocks, large rocks or wood planks around the perimeter of the tilled soil. Stack materials with each layer offset, if needed, to make it stable and increase its height to 4 to 12 inches. Plant roots will grow as deep as 12 inches, but can often establish sufficient roots within 4 inches.

Step 3

Shovel compost or a mixture of 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 peat moss inside the garden bed.

Step 4

Drag a rake over the top of the soil mixture until it's level before planting.