4 Tips for Building a Raised Garden Bed

Beginner and small-scale gardeners are responsible for the growing popularity of raised bed gardening. Building a raised bed allows you to keep your garden contained while controlling the quality of your soil. If you’re considering building your own raised bed, here are some simple steps to keep in mind.

1. Location. Location. Ideally you will have a flat location with a north-south orientation that allows 6 hours of even sun exposure. If your location is not flat, you should build on-site to make the necessary adjustments to ensure you end up with a level bed. If the bed isn’t level, the water will run off and your plants will not grow.
   
2. Prep your soil based on your plants. Use a mixture of top soil and vegetable garden soil. Soil control is one of the greatest benefits of raised bed gardening. If you plan to grow root vegetables, you may want to loosen and prep the soil under your bed as well. If you want to grow strong and healthy plants, one of the biggest keys is nutrient-rich compost. Learn more about how to make organic compost at Organic Daily Post. 
3. Keep it in reach. Don’t build your bed wider than 4 feet. This allows you to comfortably access your plantings from all sides so that pruning and harvesting is a breeze.
4. Use lasting materials. If you plan to garden for years to come, you want your original construction to last as long as possible. Treated lumber, railroad ties or old pallets may be contaminated with arsenic or other toxic materials. Composite decking boards can be a great, eco-friendly solution that lasts. Using a high-quality combination fastener, like the SCRAIL® offered by FASCO America®, can ensure your structure is weather-resistant and built to last.
5. Don’t over plant. Raised beds are generally only 4 feet wide. Most plants require at least an 18-inch diameter space to grow properly. Don’t try jamming a bunch of plants into one bed. It will hurt your production and ultimately waste your time and money. If you want a lot of variety, consider building multiple beds with a walking space between them. Plant taller plants on the side where the sun sets to avoid shading shorter plants.

Gardening is fruitful pastime. A well-constructed garden bed, made with high-quality materials and fasteners, can provide years of enjoyment. The BECK Fastener Group® has been the leader in the manufacturing of new and innovative construction fasteners for over 100 years. The SCRAIL® family of fasteners offers a product to meet most every construction need including the highly-praised fasteners they have created for use in small building projects, like your raised garden beds.