What is a raised bed?

An area of soil which is higher than the surrounding garden. A raised bed can be edged with timber, or other material, but may just be a mound of soil. The height is not critical and usually varies from 4″-6″ up to a couple of feet. Deeper beds are often used by people with health problems but remember they will need a lot of soil.

Why use them?

• Better drainage
• Warmer soil
• Deeper layer of topsoil
• A few inches higher is easier on the gardener’s back!

What to make raised beds out of?

• Wood but not pressure-treated, old scaffold planks are good.
• Cinder blocks, very cold weather can sometimes break them.
• Cedar or redwood, natural insect-repellant.

These are some new raised beds edged with scaffold planks which are about 230mm (9 inches) wide.
(Click image to enlarge)