Gardening with Raised Beds saves time, money and space.

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Creating Raised Beds

Why choose raised beds?
Using raised beds, planted intensively can produce 4-6 times the amount of yield than normal row planting. The size of the area you need using raised beds is greatly reduced. By cutting down on the wasted space between rows you can save as much as 70%. Managing your beds also takes less time, the compact space makes it easy to water, weed and fertilize. Adding fertilizer to this compact space saves dollars instead of spreading it throughout a row garden. Plants that like to spread and take over are far easier to keep confined to their designated space. You can have lawn or various groundcovers that can add color and or aroma to your space. Try planted creeping pennyroyal between your beds to help keep out bugs. As you walk on it, you will enjoy the refreshing aroma and flies and mosquitoes will even stay away from the area! You may wish to have raised beds closing off the entire perimeter of your garden space. The perimeter beds can be planted with plants and herbs that repel insects, such as Wormwood, Mugwort, Pennyroyal, Garlic, Marigolds, Pyrethrin, Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Nasturtiums, Catnip, Chives, Feverfew, Marigolds, and Rue.

How much work?
Digging the soil to create a raised bed will prepare the beds for several gardening years. The soil does not get compacted down from being stepped on so maintaining the soil is much easier. The more soil builders you add the easier the soil is to work. Roots crops especially benefit from raised beds, as they need non compacted soil to reach full growth potential. If you have a row garden now, start converting to raised beds, a couple a year. Try planting garlic or onions first and you'll be converted forever to raised beds with the size difference. With the savings in money, time and space, what are you waiting for?

A Simple Plan with Raised Beds Including Border of Raised Beds

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The Steps to Creating a Raised Bed
Step 1
Design your beds as long as is practical but beds should not be more than 5' wide. You want the center easy to reach from either side. Now your ready to mark off your bed, use a simple 4 corner post and your garden string to define the area. Lightly moisten the soil, remove any top vegetation and add a 3" layer of compost into the top 1' of soil. dig a trench at one end of your bed about the width and depth of your shovel. Remove this soil and place in a wheelbarrow to move later to opposite end of the bed.

Step 2
Loosen the underlying soil in the trench with a spading fork to 12" deep. Try not to mix the lower soil with the topsoil.

Step 3
Dig a second trench the same as the first. Shovel this soil into the first trench you made. Loosen the next set of subsoil you have exposed and continue trenching and loosening until you reach the end of your bed.

Step 4
When the last trench is dug and its subsoil loosened, fill it with the remaining soil from your wheelbarrow.

Step 5
Rake the top of the bed smooth and flat. shape the bed so that the sides slope gently outward at the base. If desired, box the perimeter of the bed using 2x10 lumber fastened with galvanized nails.

That's it! Plant your seeds and enjoy the new look and ease of your garden!

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Fast-Start Raised Bed

Raised Bed Corners 10-inch, set of 4

Copper Cap Raised Bed, 3' x 3'
"Fieldstone" Raised Bed
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Corner Raised Bed with Trellis
3' Copper Raised Bed
Hot Bed Heat-Loving Plants Zoom In Our Exclusive Hot Bed Soil warms earlier in a raised bed, so heat-lovers like peppers, melons, sweet potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes grow faster, better and longer into the season. 3' x 3' x 10" H

Fast Start Greenhouse At Last! A Compact Greenhouse That Doesn't Cut Corners With the Fast Start Greenhouse you can start seedlings, nurture transplants, and grow vegetables and flowers from spring to fall. It's packed with features you'd expect in larger, more expensive models. At just 4 feet x 6 feet, it will be at

Self-Water Fiore Square Planter Classic Italian Planters Are Self-Watering, Indestructible To find durable plastic planters with the perfect lines and proportions of Italian terra cotta, we went straight to the source— Italy! Our "Fiore" Planters are as lovely as their name (Italian for "flower"). 15" Square Planter holds 22

Build-A-Ball, Set Of 6 Build-A-Balls Make Fun and Functional Structures With these rubber connectors and some bamboo poles, you can build all kinds of sturdy garden structures in minutes— without tools. They're as much fun as an old-fashioned kid's toy. Fits our #4 and #6 bamboo or any 3/4" pole.

3-Tier Floralight 3-Tier Floralight The sturdy chromed steel frame has a sliding channel on each side, making it easy to adjust the height of the fixture. Swivel coasters let you move the unit around easily. Each fixture is separately wired and grounded with its own on/off switch. Heavy-duty plastic trays lift out

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Garden Starter Greenhouse The Full-Size, Full-Feature Greenhouse for Under $1000 The Garden Starter is designed and built here at Gardener's Supply. It has a tough, rust and corrosion-free aluminum frame, and rigid polycarbonate double glazing that seals in warmth and moisture. The roomy 8' x 6' interior has over 7' of he

Fast Start Greenhouse At Last! A Compact Greenhouse That Doesn't Cut Corners With the Fast Start Greenhouse you can start seedlings, nurture transplants, and grow vegetables and flowers from spring to fall. It's packed with features you'd expect in larger, more expensive models. At just 4 feet x 6 feet, it will be at

24" X 24" Raised Cedar Garden Bed Planter

Make Gardening Easy! With our 24" x 24" Raised Cedar Garden Bed Planter you can now plant, weed, grow and harvest your garden without ever having to get down on your hands and knees again! This 24" high rectangular container garden planter allows you to work comfortably while standing. This item is crafted of Western Red Cedar, a naturally insect and weather resistant wood that will weather to a lovely silver gray. Even if you live in an apartment or condo, you can still have a great herb, vegetable or flower garden right outside your backdoor. Bottom shelf is sold separately.

24" x 12" Raised Cedar Garden Bed Planter

Make Gardening Easy! With our 24" x 12" Raised Cedar Garden Bed Planter you can now plant, weed, grow and harvest your garden without ever having to get down on your hands and knees again! This 12" high rectangular container garden planter allows you to work comfortably while standing. This item is crafted of Western Red Cedar, a naturally insect and weather resistant wood that will weather to a lovely silver gray. Even if you live in an apartment or condo, you can still have a great herb, vegetable or flower garden right outside your backdoor. Bottom shelf is sold separately.

Cold Frame (Downloadable Plan)

Cold Frame (Downloadable Plan)

Four-Shelf Greenhouse

Ideal for starting seedlings!

Four-Shelf Greenhouse

Ideal for starting seedlings!

10" High CurveRock Raised Bed

"It looks like real stone, but it is made out of high density, UV-protected polyethylene!"

8&apros; Raised Rectangular Cedar Garden Bed Planter

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20" High CurveRock Raised Bed

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10&apros; Raised Rectangular Cedar Garden Bed Planter

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Vinyl Raised Planter Bed

This planter will look this brand new for years to come!

13" Rectangular Cedar Planter

Our 13" Rectangular Cedar Planter offers you a great opportunity to display your favorite annuals or perennials around the deck, pool or patio. Crafted of Western Red Cedar which is naturally insect and weather resistant, it’s sure to add natural beauty anywhere you use them in your landscape.

Cold Frame 3'X3'X2'3" High - $ 34.95
Ideal for seedings and harding off plants. Roll-up zipped door for easy access. Ground fitting flaps and peg to keep it secure. Thermal efficient insulating cover. Assembles in minutes. Size 3' x 3'

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