What We’ve Learned Building Raised Garden Beds: Creating The Kind of Garden You Can’t Wait to Come Home To
One of our favorite places in our home has quickly become the garden.
From the excitement of starting seeds and those early trips to the plant store, to slow mornings with coffee checking in on what’s growing. Gardens mark the rhythm of each season in a way nothing else does. However, we’ve learned that there are elements that can make your garden easier to upkeep, more magical to look at and more enjoyable to spend time in. If you’re getting ready to build your own (or plan on calling us to help), take a look at our tips and tricks.
Choose Your Garden’s Placement for the Experience, Not Just the Look
It’s easy to choose a spot based on aesthetics, but remember that gardens take hours of work. In order to create the habit of gardening, it’s important you place it in an area that not only your plants can thrive, but is easy for you to tend to.
Before building, take a few days to observe:
Where does your yard get consistent sunlight?
How easy is it to access water?
Is it close enough that you’ll actually use it?
Is it nearby a favorite spot of any critters who frequent your backyard?
Size It for How You’ll Actually Use It
Picture yourself tending to the garden in different stages of plant growth and weather. Taking into consideration whether you want to be bent over a garden in 100 degree weather is important when you determine a comfortable bed height. Similarly, as you consider the plants you’ll grow take into account how far across the bed your arms can reach in order to easily access your harvest. Map it out, mock it up, and practice the different movements of gardening before you buy lumber or start your build.
Before building, map it out:
Can you comfortably reach across the bed?
Do the walkways feel spacious enough to sit/ crouch and bring tools or wheelbarrow in/out?
Is the height comfortable for planting and harvesting?
Our recommendations:
~36” height for comfort
A mix of bed widths depending on space
3+ feet of walkway space between beds
Don’t Overlook the Walkway
The path between your beds shapes the entire feel of your garden. While it may seem like a small decision (or one you make out of convenience), it has the ability to change the entire ambiance. Not only do aesthetics change based on the material you choose, but the comfort can too. If you’re someone who likes to garden barefoot, pea gravel is probably not the right option for you.
Pea gravel creates a soft, organic, English garden feel
Brick/ pavers feels more structured, classic, and polished, and is the more expensive option
Mulch is the most affordable option, but will need to be refreshed every season
Layer, Layer, Layer
You might be thinking we’re talking about the classic lasagna layering method for filling your raised garden bed. While that’s a great, cost-effective tip for garden beds… it’s not what we’ll cover here. Instead, when building your garden bed what really amps up the magical ambiance of a garden is the small details that are woven throughout the garden to make it feel extra special and intentional.
Trellises for height and structure
Soft lighting for evenings (we love warm, white twinkling lights on trellises and spotlights at the edges of the bed)
Bird baths
Bistro table and chairs to maximize the time you spend in the garden
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