Beds built with western red cedar can last 10 to 15 years galvanized steel, 20 years masonry or plastic composites, indefinitely. HOW LONG DO BEDS LAST? That depends on what they’re made of.Keep beds at least 6 feet from pavement and south-facing walls, which intensify summer heat. WHERE TO PUT IT? Choose a spot that gets at least 8 hours of sun a day, and orient each bed so its long side runs east to west.You’ll probably need a pro to erect a bed made of mortared masonry. In most cases, the hardest part is preparing the soil under the bed and filling the frame. DIY OR HIRE A PRO? Wood-framed beds and kits are easy to build, even for a beginning DIYer.Plan on spending about $3 per cubic foot for bagged garden soil. A 4-by-8-foot brick-sided bed built by a mason will cost about $2,000. HOW MUCH DOES A RAISED BED COST? A simple 4-by-8-foot cedar frame built from scratch or a kit generally runs just over $100. ![]() Shown: To make optimal use of the space in these raised beds, use tall teepee trellises to provide sturdy supports for pole beans. In short, we show you all you need to know to get started as a raised-bed gardener. Plus, we offer strategies for deterring insects (and other invaders). Here we provide practical advice about the types of frame materials and mulches to use, ways to enhance soil fertility, and the various options for irrigating. “There’s less weeding, less watering, and fewer pests.” “When the soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients, plants are more robust and virtually take care of themselves,” he says. Seaman, who shares his gardening know-how online at, has been growing vegetables in raised beds for nearly 40 years. And because these beds warm up faster in the spring than those at ground level, you get a head start on the growing season.īut all those advantages won’t help if you neglect the soil, and according to sustainable-living expert Greg Seaman, that’s the mistake most beginners make. Raised beds also allow you to start fresh with enriched, uncontaminated soil- on sloped property, they offer level, easy-to-tend planting areas. Build the sides high enough and you can even garden while sitting. For one thing, there’s less bending over, so it’s easier on your back. ![]() But gardening in a raised bed offers a number of advantages. Of course, you don’t need a raised bed to grow great-tasting produce-most any plot of flat ground that gets full sun will suffice for that.
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