Gardening - Raised Beds and Containers

Don't want to rent a roto tiller? Worse yet, don't want to sweat with a hoe and shovel? Don't blame you. There is another way.

Raised beds are great and simple. They are just what they sound like. Build a box without a bottom. Wood is the usual choice, although I suppose you could use PVC slats like the ones sometimes used in fencing. The size is up to you. Personally, I would rather have several small ones than one or two big ones. If using wood, use pressure treated or be ready to waterproof it with some kind of polyurethane. I would not nail the pieces. When you add soil and then water, there will be a lot of weight pushing on the sides and if your box collapses, you will have a mess. Instead, use fairly long wood screws and add a lock washer. A couple of feet is high enough for the sides. As you can see, this is not precise carpentry. However, these beds are visible in your yard so you do want them to look presentable.

When your beds are built, just add dirt. For this, I would have some top soil delivered. A yard of topsoil is not very expensive and you will stretch it when you  add your compost. A yard is a cubic yard, 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet or 27 cubic feet. To give you an idea of how much you need, if your bed is 4 feet by 4 feet by 2 feet, that is 32 cubic feet. So, since you are adding compost and you don't fill the bed right up to the top, a yard of top soil is good for that bed. Have it delivered, get a wheelbarrow and fill the bed. If you don't feel up to that, hire someone. Landscapers will do the job, but I imagine you could ask the neighbors and see if they have any able bodied kids who would like to earn a few dollars for a little work. When they are filled, you are good to go.

Apartment dwellers and those with little open yard space need not despair. You can grow a variety of edibles in containers. Flower pots of varying size and style are attractive and work nicely. Window boxes work great for many herbs and some small vegetables. Window boxes can be purchased pre-made and then you follow directions for securing them. Or, if handy, you can make your own.

I love raised beds and container gardening. They are neat, attractive ways to grow edibles and, once established, they are easy to maintain.