How to Build a Raised Garden Bed
Add Elegance and Function With a Elevated Stone Planted Bed
Sep 10, 2008
A stacked stone raised garden bed, unlike a wooden one, is considered a permanent structure. Despite its impressive look, making a stone raised garden bed is actually a great project for the beginning mason. No special tools needed—a hoe, wheelbarrow, and a few borrowed kitchen tools are all that's necessary.
Benefits of a Raised Garden Bed
- Drainage—Because the soil in a raised garden bed is looser than dirt on the ground, it drains much more effectively than a standard garden. This prevents plants from sitting in water and also allows root vegetables to grow more easily and straight.
- Easier to Care For—A raised garden bed means much less stooping over to plant and pull out weeds. This is particularly true for a raised garden bed made out of stone, as the stone wall doubles as a seating wall. The seating wall provides the perfect place to perch while weeding the garden, and provides overflow seating when entertaining outdoors.
- Warm Soil—Because the soil is above ground level, it warms in the sun faster in the springtime. This is a particular benefit to gardeners in colder climates.
- Equity—Depending on the materials and mason used, a professionally built stone garden bed can costs hundreds to thousands of dollars. As a DIY project, that money can be realized as sweat equity.
Choose the Location
Consider light and shade and access to irrigation when planning where to put a raised garden bed. A level patch of ground is much easier to work on when doing a beginning masonry project.
Build the Bed
First, decide how large the garden will be. It is easiest to work with the building materials and create a garden bed dictated, in part, by the size of the concrete blocks. 8X8x16 is the most common size, and the size used in this project. Dig a shallow foundation and fill with concrete, making sure that the foundation is level. When the concrete is firm but not completely set, arrange the first course of concrete blocks, tapping with a mallet to ensure that the blocks are level with each other. No need to mortar the blocks to each other—simply set the blocks in place.
Set the second course of blocks on top of the first course, offsetting the blocks so that the seams are staggered. Again, no need to mortar the blocks; this is a dry stack technique, and is plenty strong for this purpose.
Once the blocks are in place and the form of the garden bed is built, mix more concrete and use a bucket or shovel to fill every other core in the concrete blocks. Rebar can be added if desired, but it is not necessary. Filling every other core will lock all of the blocks together and create a very strong structure.
Make it Beautiful
Once the concrete has cured, apply the desired finish. This can be a simple stucco coat, or something as elaborate as a stacked stone veneer or mosaic. Match the look of the garden bed to the overall look of the garden and any other hardscape in the area to create a unified appearance.
Finishing Touches
- Paint the inside surface of the concrete blocks with concrete sealer. This will protect the bed from water damage and will prevent the concrete block from affecting the ph of the soil over time.
- Add irrigation if desired.
- Fill with topsoil and plant!
A raised garden bed makes a lovely addition to an outdoor kitchen area--the walls create extra seating, and the garden can be filled with herbs. Gardens can be an integral part of an overall hardscape design.
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