How to Do Raised Garden Beds
- 1). Cut one piece of 6-by-8-foot lumber in half with a circular saw. Lay the cut pieces of lumber on the ground, along with two pieces of 6-by-6-foot lumber boards. Using three galvanized nails per corner, secure the lumber boards together with a hammer to form a rectangle.
- 2). Place the raised garden bed outdoors on a flat and level surface, in an area receiving six to eight hours of full sun. Use the help of an assistant to carry the raised garden bed into place.
- 3). Lay two or three layers of weed barrier sheeting at the bottom of the raised garden bed. Cover the grass completely for maximum weed protection.
- 4). Mix equal amounts of peat moss and commercial soil in a wheelbarrow. Use a shovel to combine the two until thoroughly incorporated.
- 5). Tip the wheelbarrow over the edge of the raised garden to fill the interior space with the mixed soil. Use a garden rake to level the soil even with the rim of the raised garden bed.
- 6). Spray the soil in the raised garden bed with a light mist of water from the garden hose. Plant the seeds, vegetable or fruit plants according to the spacing requirements given on the included packet or container.
- 7). Cover the raised garden bed soil with a layer of organic mulch -- such as pine needles or wood chips. Ensure to leave a 2- or 3-inch space between the base of the plants and the mulch to avoid fungal diseases.
- 8). Pull all weeds as soon as noticed in case they happen to come through the weed barrier.
- 9). Water the seeds and/or vegetable and flower plants anywhere from two to four times per week or more, depending on how hot the weather becomes.
