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Difficulty: Beginner
A raised garden bed can help make growing your own fresh vegetables and herbs a breeze. No deep digging, bending or kneeling is required because they’re above ground and can be built to a height that suits you. They can even be placed on a paved courtyard.
Building a raised garden bed is a terrific D.I.Y. project or you can buy flat-pack kits or pre-assembled boxes. The traditional box positioned directly on the ground is the best option but if you don’t have the space, there are orchard crates and boxes with solid bases available. Just check there are plenty of drainage holes and elevate it on bricks or similar so it will drain freely. Remember that once filled it will be too heavy to move.
Once installed, follow our step-by-step guide to how to fill your raised bed.
Steps
Step 1
You might need to do some preparation work before you start filling the raised bed. For example, it’s wise to ensure any grass underneath the bed is dead and removed before you start filling it. And you should also ensure the base is level.
Depending on the eventual height and depth of the box, you might find it easier to start filling it before it is fully assembled. Shovelling aggregate and soil over a low wall takes less effort and is safer than filling a high bed.
Step 2
Add a layer about 80-100mm deep of aggregate / blue metal, crushed brick, broken concrete, polystyrene or similar to the base of the box to help excess water drain away. This is especially important in boxes with solid bases.
Cover the drainage layer with a layer of weedmat or geofabric which will allow water through but not soil or potting mix particles. This fabric layer is optional for boxes built on soil where drainage water doesn’t need to be clean because it soaks straight into the ground beneath.
Step 3
Deep boxes are perfect for those who can’t garden at ground or low levels, but can be very costly to fill completely with quality potting mix. Use ordinary garden soil to fill the box to about 400mm from the top.
If your overall height or depth of the box is less than 400mm, you can proceed directly to Step 4 and use potting mix.
Step 4
Time to add some premium potting mix. You’ll want to a minimum depth of 300mm of potting mix. Most vegies and herbs will grow and produce well if they have around a 300mm depth of potting mix, even root crops like carrots. Allow 50-100mm space on top for mulch.
Use the best available quality potting mix formulated for vegetables and herbs in your vegie box for optimal results, not garden soil which will dry out and compact quickly. Choose from 100% natural, certified organic, premium boosted with organics or premium with controlled release fertiliser.
Potting mixes tend to come in 25L and 50L bags. To determine the number of bags needed, calculate the volume required. For example, a bed measuring 1.5m wide x 2m long x 0.3m depth of potting mix will need 0.9 cubic metres, which is 900 litres (1000 litres is 1 cubic metre).
Step 5
Don’t press the potting mix down but water it thoroughly so it will settle naturally. Top up again to within 100mm of the top if required.
Now add a 100mm layer of sugarcane, pea straw or Lucerne mulch over the surface to keep it moist and cool. The mulch will also help prevent water running off the top of the garden bed.
Step 6
Plant your seeds or seedlings and enjoy your harvests in the coming months.
Materials
- Raised garden bed
- Aggregate / blue metal screenings, broken bricks / broken concrete (20-30mm in size) or crushed polystyrene boxes
- Weedmat
- Soil (for boxes over 400mm high)
- Premium vegetable and herb potting mix
- Organic weedicide (for boxes installed on the ground)
Tools
- Gardening gloves
- Face mask
- Wheelbarrow
- Shovel or spade
- Hose
