Creating a Raised Bed Sheffield
Creating a Raised Bed
Creating a raised bed in which to grow your vegetables is a great idea. Soil in a raised be warms up faster than the surrounding soil, meaning you can make the most of your growing period. Raised beds also offer more protection from pests and weeds. Lastly, the soil can be managed more easily than in normal beds, being less compacted and more contained.
What you need:
Edging Tool (or spade)
4 x Large boards (scaffolding boards are perfect)
4 x Short blocks of wood
8 or 10 x wooden stakes (50-60cm long)
Compost
Manure
Marking out
Check the length of your boards and if they are longer than the raised bed needs to be, trim them down to the correct length. Now, using your edging tool or spade, mark out the shape of the raised bed in the ground. You should then dig about 10cm into the ground along the marked lines and pile the soil into the middle of the bed.
Creating the sides
Place your boards into position along the "trench" you have created around the edge of your bed. Ideally, you should be able to reach the middle of the raised bed easily, and without standing on the bed. If needed, move the edges in until you can do this (it makes working at the bed much easier in the future, if you do this now). Make sure the boards are laying level in the trenches and make sure they meet at all four corners.
Place the four short wooden blocks in the corners and mark their positions on the end boards. Screw or nail them into position on the end boards and then, in turn, screw the side boards into the blocks. You should now have your rectangular raised bed shape. Again, make sure this sits nicely in the trenches around the edge.
With a mallet or hammer, drive the 10 stakes into the ground on the outside of the boards, spacing them out evenly on the longer sides and the ends. Hammer them flush with the top of the boards. These will stop the boards spreading out when the earth inside is piled against them.
Finishing Off
Spread the soil in the center out to the edges and dig over the whole bed well. Now add Manure and compost and dig this in. The level of the bed should be slightly below the level of the boards. This depth of soil will be perfect for most root vegetables. All you need to do now is plan your crop!