Raised garden beds: When and how to go about them |
Posted: January 23, 2014 |
Raised garden beds make for an interesting centre point and add an interesting aesthetic to anyone’s garden, but they also can provide a number of practical solutions to several gardening woes. Primarily, they provide an effective solution for gardeners who suffer with poor or little soil in their backyards. Raised beds give the gardener complete control over the soil conditions, allowing for the best blend of nutrients to encourage plant growth. Also, if your garden has an awkward topography and lots of slopes, by utilising the benefits raised beds you can create flat areas anywhere. Though typically made from wood, a number of stylish alternatives have been devised using a range of other materials. Furthermore, a garden which is designed specifically with raised beds in mind, particularly wooden ones, is more suited to having gravel paths or synthetic grass lawns to compliment them and help to establish a neat and tidy appearance. However, if you have a vision of your own, below is an overview of the various materials which can be used for raised beds, so that you can consider how they can be best incorporated into your own garden. Wood Wood is popular building material for raised beds because it is widely available, cheap and durable. However, though some woods are naturally rot resistant, it is best to install a weed barrier to prevent the soil from coming into contact with the wooden sides. Wood as a material is also extremely easy to manipulate and as such, given some rudimentary carpentry, wooden raised beds are simple to construct. They would probably look best in a contemporary garden design, but if you make use of railway sleepers, then they can make a charming addition to a more traditional, rustic garden. In addition, if wood is properly treated it can last for a number of years before needing to be replaced. Rock Rock is another easy material to build with, especially for budding DIY enthusiasts, and can make for some rustic looking raised beds. Small and medium sized rocks rarely need to be mortared together and can be arranged in circular patterns, making a change from the commonly seen rectangular flower and vegetable patches. Presuming your rock raised bed is little more than a foot off the ground, this is a simple option which results in a charming handmade aesthetic. However, if you choose not to mortar your rocks together, you may find you need to push them back into place from time to time. Ultimately on the other hand, this raised bed method requires no special equipment or knowledge and would definitely suit an old fashioned home or cottage garden. Troughs and Stock Tanks Animal troughs and stock tanks make the perfect ready-made raised beds and will last indefinitely. All you need to do is just drill a few holes in the bottom to allow for proper drainage and put them where you want them – simple! Alongside being easy to maintain, they will give your garden a unique, urban feel and are relatively cheap and readily available at DIY shops and gardening centres. Corrugated Iron Like troughs and stock tanks, corrugated iron adds a contemporary, urban feel to a garden. The material can be picked up for cheap at scrap yards and recycling centres, again making it perfect for keen DIY-ers. Furthermore, corrugated culverts or pipes are also available from certain building suppliers and need only be cut to the right height to create the perfect raised garden bed. It is worth bearing in mind however that if bought new rather than second hand, corrugated iron in any form can be quite pricey, but you do get what you pay for as once installed to your specifications, it is likely to be a permanent fixture to your garden. Concrete Though not really a DIY project, concrete has become something of a chic addition to gardens in recent years and is fast becoming the material of choice when it comes to raised beds. Though expensive, when installed it is definitely there for the long run. In addition, if you don’t like the bland exterior offered by concrete, it can be tinted or painted to make them more attractive and colourful. As mentioned however, this option is very labour intensive, and it is likely that you will have to hire a builder to install them if you are notable to construct them yourself. Masonry A combination of concrete and rock, masonry raised beds make for a permanent and classy addition to any style of garden.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|