How to make high beds with your own hands

Why do we need high beds

High beds allow you to constructively highlight the areas of the garden or flower beds and make the site more accurate. In addition, in spring, the soil in elevated boxes warms up much faster than the soil in the garden. As a result, plants can be planted in such soil 2-3 weeks earlier.

And you can also raise the beds to such a height that you feel comfortable caring for them. Depending on the size of the structure, it will be possible to process garden standing, not bending in an uncomfortable position, or sitting on a chair.

How to determine the size of high beds

In general, there are no specific requirements for the length of the box. Focus on your own taste and size of the site. It's the width that matters. Most often it varies from 60 to 120 cm. If access to the bed is only on one side, you should not make it wider than 60-70 cm - so, being at the free edge, you can easily reach the opposite. If the structure can be walked around, choose a value of 1 m or more. At the same time, be guided by your own comfort: it should be convenient for you to reach the middle of the garden.

The height of the building is also a matter of personal preference. Usually it is laid at a level of 20 to 60 cm from the surface of the earth. The higher the design, the easier it is to work with plants. But there are two important nuances. Firstly, a lot of soil will have to be poured into a high box. Therefore, you should first think about where to get the necessary amount of land. If you buy ready-made soil, it can hit your wallet. Secondly, in winter, the soil in such beds freezes stronger than in the rest of the area. For annual plants, this does not matter, but the roots and bulbs of perennials can be seriously affected by the cold. If you want to grow just such crops (for example, strawberries), it is better to limit the height of the structure to 20 cm - so perennial species will be more likely to overwinter without loss.

How to fill high beds

The easiest way is to fill the box with earth from your own site or from a store. But you can increase the efficiency of the bed and fill it with components that, when decomposed, will make the soil warmer and more fertile. In addition, the multi-layer option will help save on the purchase of ready-made soil.

First, crushed branches fruit trees and shrubs, straw, fallen leaves, grass cuttings and vegetable tops - choose one component or mix several. Then compost or rotted manure is added, and fertile soil is poured on top. The thickness of the layers depends on the height of the beds. The top and middle should be at least 20 cm in total. Therefore, lower structures can only be filled with fertilizer and soil. But if you want to use a layer of plant residues, dig a layer of earth over the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe beds to a depth of 20–30 cm.

After you put the "layer cake" in the box, pour plenty of water over the soil and wait 2-3 days. After that, plants can be planted in a high bed.

How to make simple high beds with your own hands

The height of the box depends on the width of the selected board. The authors of this master class use the 20 cm option.

What you need

• Boards 40 mm thick and 20 cm wide;
• ruler or measuring tape;
• pencil;
• saw;
• varnish or protective impregnation for wood;
• brush;
• 4 wide steel corners for fixing boards;
• self-tapping screws for wood 30 mm long;
• screwdriver.

How to do

Decide on the size of the garden. From the boards, make two blanks corresponding to the length and width of the box. To do this, mark the material and cut it at a right angle.

On the inside and outside, carefully coat the blanks with varnish or a special impregnation that protects the tree from decay. Let them dry completely.

In the place of the beds on the site, assemble the box, fixing the corners from the inside of the boards to the screws.

Fill the high bed soil.

How to make high beds with the right height level with your own hands

The design of such a box is more complex. But it allows you to make a bed of the desired height, without being tied to the width of the board.

What you need

• Boards 30–40 mm thick;
• ruler or measuring tape;
• pencil;
• saw;
• wooden bars 50 × 50 mm;
• wood screws;
• screwdriver;
• varnish or protective impregnation for wood;
• brush;
• geotextile;
• shovel.

How to do

Decide on the size of the garden. Its height should be a multiple of the width of the board used. For example, for a structure 60 cm high, you will need four blanks 15 cm wide.

In total, you need to make 16 parts - four for each side of the box. If you collect a square bed, the elements will be the same. For a rectangular one, eight blanks are required in the width of the box and eight in length. On solid boards, make markings according to your parameters and saw the tree into pieces.

From the beam, make four blanks. Their length should be 20-30 cm more than the height of the beds.

Then assemble two narrow walls. To do this, put two bars on the ground and attach four boards to them with self-tapping screws. Repeat.

Put the finished walls on their side and attach wide boards to them on both sides.

Coat the assembled box with varnish or wood impregnation on the inside and outside. Let the compound dry completely.

In the place where the high bed will be located, lay geotextiles on the ground. It will protect plants from moles and other inhabitants of the garden.

Place the box on the geotextile.

In the place where the legs are located, cut the material crosswise. Dig four holes to deepen the supports.

Return the structure to its place by lowering the legs into the prepared recesses.

Pour soil into the box.