Let's learn how to make high and comfortable beds. What are raised beds, how to make them yourself? We build raised beds with our own hands.

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A dacha is not just a site for growing and harvesting crops. For many, this is a favorite place to relax and implement ideas for. Often the method of planting vegetable crops is relegated to the background, but this is not correct, because the appearance of the entire landscape largely depends on their interesting location and attractive appearance. This article tells you how to make beds for the lazy at your dacha in the easiest way. Photos and descriptions of the most good ideas, as well as ways of their implementation should help make your site comfortable and well-groomed.

Tall board structures for planting crops will be the highlight of any area

A garden bed is most often a fenced plot of land intended for growing a specific type of plant.

• Slate.

Typically, this material is used only if it is available (for example, left after a roof repair).

• Plastic.

The main feature of plastic is that it can be molded into any shape, so it is great for round or other curved fit options. In addition, it is not affected by precipitation and low temperatures, therefore it will last a long time without losing its original attractiveness.

Expensive and durable option.

• A natural stone.

It makes the most spectacular sides that will serve long years. Unlike bricks, stones have irregular shape, which will allow you to design a landscape in an eco-style. Disadvantages of stone sides: high cost and gradual sinking into the soil under the influence of its own weight, so such a side must be periodically checked and corrected.

A quality made with your own hands from scrap materials will serve for many years, but for good harvest its correct location is also necessary.

Placing beds in the vegetable garden: how to arrange, photos, tips

The quality and quantity of the harvest depends on the proper arrangement of the beds at the dacha, so this issue is worth paying attention to Special attention. First of all, you need to know the following:

• Beds located on the cardinal points (from north to south) - good decision only for low plants on a flat horizontal area.
• If the site has a slope that cannot be leveled, the beds should be across it regardless of orientation.
• It is advisable to make the rows of one plant the same size. This will make it easier to calculate the amount of fertilizer, the degree of watering and planting.
• If there are slopes in different directions on the site, choose the south side (the crop will ripen faster on it).

On small areas There is often a lack of free horizontal space for planting. If this is your case, try one of the following ideas:

• Create vertical structures.

• Use unused objects (for example, a wheelbarrow, a barrel, etc.) to plant plants.
• Attach the garden bed to the seating area.

How best to make beds in the garden - options

The beds are classified according to their design features, with the following types:

• Traditional (level with the rest of the area, dimensions allow you to easily reach the center from any side (right or left)).

• High (30-40 cm above ground level, contribute to the most rapid maturation harvest).

• Deep (when installing, a trench 20-30 cm deep is dug, thanks to which the ground most often does not freeze, and planting can be carried out earlier).
• Narrow (for example, according to the Mittlider method, described in detail in the next chapter).
• Vertical (an excellent solution for small areas, but not all plants can be planted in this way).

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How to make beds from boards with your own hands

Now let's look at how to properly make garden beds from wood. This material is the most common when constructing beds. Board structures have the following advantages:

• Reliability.

The tree perfectly retains moisture inside the row, and also does not deform for a long time.

• Low cost.

This material is often left behind after construction. If you don’t have it, you can buy boards at a fairly low price.

• Easy to install.

Main - high-quality processing wood, if this is not done, insects and moisture will quickly destroy the structure.

• Attractive appearance.

Wood is a material ideal for eco-style beds.

The only drawback of board structures is their fragility (in comparison, for example, with plastic or brick). However, the ability to quickly and cost-effectively change them more than outweighs this.

How to make a bed from boards with your own hands: photos, dimensions, installation sequence

If you decide to make a wooden structure, first of all you need to choose the type of wood:

• Oak or ash- hardwoods, the boards of which are perfect in this case, but their price is quite high.
• Pine– cheap, but short-lived. The service life of such a fence can be extended by periodic chemical treatment.
• Cedar or larch– the best price-quality ratio. Due to the presence of resin in the data coniferous trees, there is no need to process them.
• Acacia- Also great option for making beds.

What are optimal sizes beds made of boards? First you need to decide on the height of the structure, which depends on the following factors:

• Features of the planted crop.

Some vegetables require a certain depth (for example, for potatoes, the planting depth must be at least 40 cm).

• Soil fertility.

If the soil is fertile, the sides can be made 10-15 cm high. If backfilling is required fertile soil– 30 cm or more.

• Type of bed.

For example, warm ones are characterized by a height of 50 cm.

The length of the row can be any, but it is not recommended to make it too long for two reasons: it will be an obstacle to moving around the garden, and the wooden structure will have to be additionally reinforced with oblique or vertical pegs.

The most important parameter when arranging beds in a dacha is their width, since ease of use largely depends on it. If you make it too wide, it will be difficult to reach its center. Therefore, the maximum width is considered to be 100 cm.

In most cases (if the planned structure does not have a very complex shape), it will not be difficult to make a bed from boards with your own hands. The size of the boards depends on the size of the future bed, however, if you only have material of insufficient length, it doesn’t matter, several boards can always be joined along the length.

Procedure for constructing a wooden structure:

• Preparing the area.

At this stage, it is necessary to level and dig the area for the structure.

For a rectangular structure, you need to connect 4 boards and attach support bars to them, which should be 20-30 cm longer than the future sides. They need to be sharpened a little with an ax on the free side (to make it easier to enter the ground).

• Installation of the structure.

We drive the structure into the ground, and it is important to use a level to achieve maximum evenness of the structure.

• Surface treatment of boards.

First of all, the surface is primed (to protect it from moisture and pests), then coated oil paint(optional, you can leave the wood color).

• Backfill.

The composition depends on the type of structure and the selected crop. But in all cases, the first layer should be drainage.

Most often, they try to plant only one crop in one area, but sometimes they practice joint landing vegetables in the garden. However, it is worth remembering that not all plants get along with each other. Therefore, below is a table of compatibility of vegetables in the beds.

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Interesting ideas come to mind for many summer residents and owners of private houses. In the article we will look at original photographic examples and several instructions for creating such beauty.

Mixed planting of vegetables in the garden: examples, photos

More and more summer residents are interested in obtaining not only a large harvest, but also an environmentally friendly one. Therefore, the question arises, how to achieve a high-quality harvest without resorting to chemicals?

An excellent solution is mixed planting of vegetables. After all, some cultures have a beneficial effect on each other. However, in this matter you should be extremely careful, since not all plants like any kind of neighborhood at all.

Thanks to the science of “allelopathy”, a table of the proximity of vegetables in the garden has been compiled, using which you can significantly reduce the use of chemicals for pest control and fertilizer.

The proximity of vegetables in the beds - compatibility table

The table below reflects the compatibility of vegetables in the garden. Planting using this information will ensure a high-quality harvest with minimum investment funds.

Mixed planting of vegetables in the garden: examples with photos and tips

Each friendly or unfriendly neighborhood of vegetables in the garden has its own justification. For example, strawberries and onions make great neighbors. Onions protect the berries from rot and disease, and if you plant parsley nearby, they prevent the appearance of slugs.

Onions are also an excellent companion for most garden crops, as they protect them from pests. The most interesting neighborhood of this plant is with carrots. Both crops have their own pests - onion and carrot flies, and the first cannot stand the smell of carrots, and the second - onions.

Garlic is great for pest control and is therefore a good companion for most crops. However, it is not recommended to plant it next to plants of the legume family, since the latter are leaders in fence nutrients, and garlic needs quite a lot of them.

Growing crops together in the garden can be detrimental to other vegetables. For example, tomatoes cannot be planted with cucumbers, as they require different degrees of watering. Thus, the proximity of these two crops will create difficulties during processing (there will be a need for spot watering, which will take much more time and effort).

In addition to the properties of plants, it is necessary to pay attention to their size. For example, when alternating cabbage and radishes, the second crop will receive an insufficient amount sunlight, which will cause the quality of the crop to deteriorate significantly.

So, you have developed an ideal arrangement of all the vegetables in your summer cottage, but every year the harvest gets worse. What to do? It is necessary to ensure crop rotation.

Crop rotation table for vegetables in beds

Crop rotation is the organization of alternation of crops in the garden. Ideally, this process should be continuous and annual. However, in real conditions, achieving this is very problematic for the following reasons:

• There is insufficient information about soil contamination and the presence of pests in it.
• No time for exact calculations ideal option landings.

Why is crop rotation a must for a good harvest? Every culture has unique features in terms of obtaining nutrients. Some people look for them in the surface layers of the soil (for example, a cucumber), while others, in search of water, sink their roots several meters deep (for example, a watermelon). In addition, for the growth of each plant, different elements are needed (to a greater extent) (for example, for a tomato - phosphorus, for cabbage - nitrogen).

Now imagine that from year to year a certain layer of soil is depleted, and the content of precisely those substances that are necessary for a given crop decreases.To make it easier for you to decide how to alternate vegetables, below is a table of crop rotation of vegetable crops in the garden.

Important! The main thing is that the culture does not return to its original place for 3-4 years. During this time, the soil will have time to recover and accumulate required amount nutrients.

How to make a bed for cucumbers in open ground: photos, methods

Cucumbers are a rather capricious crop that requires special care. Many people believe that it can only be planted by seedlings, but thanks to many years of selection, there are currently several varieties that can be planted directly in open ground.

First of all, it is necessary to prepare the beds for cucumbers in the spring:

• Choose the right direction of the rows - from north to south.
• Fertilize the soil (the best solutions are cow manure or chicken droppings, but if they are not available, any mineral fertilizer will do).
• Place sides (preferably at least 25 cm).

The main secrets of growing cucumbers in open ground– choosing the right planting time (from May to mid-June depending on the region) and choosing the appropriate variety.

How to make beds for cucumbers - general features

In the case when seedlings are not used, grow a high-quality crop in the usual way(on standard beds) it won’t work. It is necessary to use one of the other methods of growing cucumbers in open ground:

• Arranging a bed with a bookmark.
• Installation of a warm bed (including a raised structure).

These methods are non-standard, so they are described in detail below to prevent errors during installation.

How to make beds for cucumbers in the garden with a bookmark

To arrange a bed for growing cucumbers with a bookmark, you need to dig a trench 30 cm deep and fill it sequentially with the following layers:

No stagnant water.

Warm beds for cucumbers in open ground

How to make a warm bed for cucumbers on the surface of the ground? To do this, you need to build a box (for example, from boards or bricks) and fill it with the following layers:

• Sand.
• Organic waste (leaves, bark, etc.).
• Straw.
• Fertilizer (manure is best).
• Earth and humus.

The main thing is to thoroughly compact each layer, otherwise the soil will turn out to be too loose, and you should not expect a good harvest.

Advantages of warm beds for cucumbers:

• No dirt from the beds due to the presence of sides.
• High yield.
• Aesthetic appearance (you can make beautiful identical beds).

Raised beds for cucumbers in open ground

In unfavorable climate conditions, it is advisable to arrange raised (or high) beds 40-50 cm high (for convenience, you can make it higher). In this case, the sequence of layers remains the same as in conventional warm structures on the surface of the earth. Such designs have the following advantages:

• Even faster warming of the soil, which means the harvest will appear earlier.
• Convenient (no need to bend over to care for cucumbers).

  

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Cultivating land at a summer cottage always requires a lot of time and effort. Every plant and vegetable crop requires a certain degree of moisture to ripen well, and groundwater is often higher than normal. The solution to this problem was raised beds, you can make them yourself with step by step instructions from specialists.

Features of raised beds

Tall and smart - this is a real godsend for summer residents; they are suitable for growing any plants: vegetables, herbs, berries, fruit trees and garden flowers.

High raised fences have many advantages:

The disadvantage of raised structures is the need for frequent fertilization, increased fertilizing with minerals and watering the beds, since the soil inside such structures dries out quickly. You can cope with this problem by organizing an automatic watering system or mulching the soil.

Optimal sizes:

The optimal perennial height should be up to 20 centimeters, otherwise the soil will freeze during winter frosts.

Construction of similar structures on its own suburban area does not require large financial investments, which is why they are so popular among summer residents. Making raised beds with your own hands is shown in the video with step-by-step instructions.

Types of beds

To organize a vegetable garden in a suburban area, several types of beds are used:

High bulk beds are also available:

How to choose material

What should you use to make a tall structure in your garden? First you need to choose a material suitable for a specific area. Raised beds can be:

• Made of wood. The advantage of this material is its availability, convenience and environmental friendliness. To assemble the structure, you will need boards, bars and logs of different sizes. Before use, the wood must be treated with special antifungal and water-repellent solutions to protect the bed.

  

• Made from slate. The assembly is like this lightweight design and fast, the material is accessible and inexpensive. Slate is quite fragile, so it requires care during installation and further operation. The fence can be painted and decorated with ornaments of different colors.

  

• Made of brick. The advantage is the durability and strength of the structure. Brick or stone beds fit perfectly into any landscape, but are characterized by high cost and a complex manufacturing process. The constituent elements must be connected with concrete mortar. However, too massive installations the earth warms up more slowly, so you can’t go overboard with the layer thickness.

  

• From twigs and vines. The borders for the beds can be woven from small branches and twigs of trees. This design looks original and elegant and can be used as decoration. Such wicker structures should be covered from the inside with a layer of plastic film to prevent water from seeping through. The downside is their fragility; their service life will be no more than one season.

  

• Made of metal. Such structures have a long service life, are durable and stable. They are made by constructing a frame and welding metal elements. The material must be coated with an anti-corrosion compound for comfortable use and durable service.

  

• Made of plastic. The material is strong, durable and easy to install. However, some types plastic sheets can release substances that are toxic and harmful to plants.

  

• Made of concrete. Used for the construction of multi-tiered structures. The fence can be made either from separate blocks (as in the photo) or be monolithic. Concrete beds are durable and can be decorated various decor. The installation process is complex and lengthy.

  

• Made of metal mesh and pebbles. You can make a bed using the gabion technique, which is used for constructing flower beds. Such a backfill fence consists of a double frame of mesh, the inner wall is covered with film, and small stones and pebbles are poured between the posts of the frame.

  

  Gabion technique

To make the structure, summer residents sometimes use available budget materials, for example, plastic bottles, old empty boxes and small pieces of plastic fencing.

Making raised beds with your own hands is shown in the video.

How to choose a place

It is extremely important to choose the right place for the construction of a high bed on a summer cottage. It is necessary to carefully study the territory and draw a diagram of the location of structures.

What you need to consider when setting up a vegetable garden with raised beds:

• The soil surface should be flat and, preferably, without strong slopes.
• The place should be well lit by the sun.
• It is necessary to take into account the shadow from nearby trees.

Creating a frame is only a small part of the work; it is also important to correctly fill the structure with soil. This work needs to begin in the fall. The internal filling consists of several layers of different widths. The dimensions of each layer depend on the height and bed.

How to fill the structure with soil:

• On the bottom it is necessary to place small metal mesh or geotextiles to protect the garden from small rodents and pests.
• Then the first drainage layer is laid from pieces of crushed bark, branches, dry leaves, plant stems and shavings.
• The second layer is various fertilizers, for example, manure.
• The third layer is usually formed by a waterproof material: cardboard, clean paper or old natural burlap.
• To create the next fourth layer, you will need organic matter in the form of plant remains and a small amount of mineral fertilizers.
• Fertile soil serves as the last fifth layer; the layer is laid at a thickness of 10 centimeters. The soil should be selected depending on the crops grown.

As soon as the raised bed is completely filled with soil, it must be watered abundantly and left for 3 days, during which time the layers will settle a little. Then the structure is covered with polyethylene so that the soil warms up well. And only in the spring can you start sowing seeds or planting plants. The step-by-step process of constructing such a bed is shown in the video below.

Bed-box made of boards

Most often, summer residents prefer wood when it comes to making sides for high beds. The advantage of this material is the fact that the wood does not overheat and is easy to process.

It is better to use boards made of ash, oak, cedar or larch. Pine is considered a budget option, since this type of wood is more susceptible to rotting.

Do-it-yourself high bed-box

Required tools and materials:

1. Wooden boards 50*200 mm.
2. Metal grid.
3. Nails and hammer.
4. Protective mixture for impregnation.
5. Shovel.
6. Tape measure for measurements.
7. Miter box for cutting.

Manufacturing process:

To create a structure, both smooth and wavy slate are suitable. At the end, the material can be painted in any color with special acrylic paint.

Materials and tools:

1. Slate sheets.
2. Grinder (can be replaced with an electric jigsaw).
3. Shovel.
4. Chalk or a simple pencil.
5. Drill (can be replaced with a screwdriver).
6. Tape measure for measurements.
7. Rubber mallet.
8. Building level.
9. Wooden pegs or metal rods.

A bed of wavy slate on a summer plot

Manufacturing technology:

Raised beds have different design, shape and dimensions. With the help of such designs, you can bring any ideas to life and transform your summer cottage beyond recognition. The garden will look well-groomed, and the harvest will delight you with its quality!

Working in the garden and caring for plants takes a lot of time and effort, and the results are not always equivalent. labor costs. Raised beds will help increase the yield at your summer cottage and ease physical labor. Grow bountiful harvest, without straining your back, it’s not difficult - raised beds are quite easy to make yourself.

An example of a classic high garden bed

This does not require complex tools or special skills.

Pros of raised beds

Tall or smart beds an almost ideal way for growing any plants: vegetables, berries, fruits, herbs or flowers. Compared to traditional garden beds, high fences have many advantages:

Arrangement of raised beds using unhewn boards

Materials for building smart beds

You can make raised beds with your own hands from various building materials, here are the most popular of them:

Parameters of raised beds

When installing high beds, you should follow some recommendations and take into account the following features.

Optimal height

Length and width of raised beds

The length of the bed is not important; you can make it any length – as much as the site area allows. The only condition is that long beds need to be strengthened with additional jumpers or supporting posts.
You need to pay closer attention to the width of the bed:

Where to install a raised bed

If the nature of the soil does not have special significance for a smart garden bed, then sunlight is important for any crops. For planting, you should choose an area that receives direct sunlight for at least 5 hours.
Before filling the bed, you should do the following:

• A construction mesh is nailed to the bottom of the box - it will protect the plants from rodents and moles;
• Then thick cardboard or geotextile is laid - weeds will not break through such a barrier, and the water will not stagnate.

What to plant

You can plant almost any vegetables, berries, herbs or flowers in high beds. On decorated beds, you can perform crop rotation every year, changing crops in places. Only plants such as sunflower or corn are not very convenient to grow in such boxes due to the tall growing stems.

Do-it-yourself raised beds made from boards

Wooden boards are the simplest and most environmentally friendly safe way make a garden bed. In addition, this material is always available.

However, many gardeners rightly believe that such processing reduces the environmental safety of the material and this affects the quality of the grown fruits and vegetables. The most environmentally friendly way to extend the life of wood is. It is even better to use boards with good rot resistance - larch or oak.

Making a high bed from beams

Also after antiseptic treatment With inside the bed can be sheathed with film to limit contact of the soil with chemically treated wood.

Inventory and materials

For assembly wooden bed You will need the following tools and materials:

• boards 5x20 cm;
• bars 5x5 cm;
• hacksaw;
• wood screws;
• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• shovel;
• building level and tape measure;
• construction mesh.

Installation of a high bed

Filling a raised bed

The bed is ready, now you need to fill it. The effectiveness of smart beds is achieved by filling them correctly layer by layer:

1. First, you can lay cardboard to protect the bed from weeds.
2. A small layer of sand is poured onto the cardboard.
3. The organic layer is long-rotting organic material (branches, bark, coarse thick tops, wood chips).
4. Plant residues – plant tops, vegetable and fruit peelings, leaves, non-perennial weeds.
5. The bed is spilled with water, or better yet, with infusion of manure, and 15-20 cm of fertile soil is poured.

Raised beds made of slate

Slate - simple and a budget option for the construction of raised beds. And if this roofing material lies like a dead weight after replacing the roof, then this is also a free way to make smart beds on your garden plot.

Advantages and disadvantages of slate for making beds

The advantages of construction slate are as follows:

• low cost;
• durability;
• rigidity and strength;
• chemical neutrality;
• neat appearance.

The downside of a slate border is that it gets very hot in hot weather. Plants will need more frequent watering.

You will be surprised by your past doubts about whether to make raised beds at your dacha... Your back will thank you - you will simply bend down slightly to care for the bed. Your knees will thank you - you can simply sit on the edge of the bed and tend to your garden.

Your plants will thank you - there is no more competition from weeds or nearby fruit trees. Your land will be grateful to you - you do not trample it and ennoble it with humus. Your garden with raised beds can look beautiful, be comfortable and reward you with a bountiful harvest.

How to make raised beds with your own hands.

1. First we must mark out the space for the beds. The usual width of the bed is 1.2 m, the length can be any. We mark rectangles of the required size on the ground with sand.

2. We assemble high beds. The raised bed has no bottom and consists of posts with grooves on all four sides and boards with corresponding grooves. You can buy ready-made fences for garden beds or make them yourself. For fencing, it is better to take hardwood, because... Conifers secrete resin, which can have an unnecessary effect on soil composition. We check the horizontal installation of the garden box with a level.

3. Extend the high beds. Because The design of our beds is modular; we can extend our bed on either side with another module.

4. How to protect a high bed from rodents. Even if you have not encountered moles and other underground garden pests in your summer cottage, it is better to take steps to protect your garden right now than to unsuccessfully fight these rodents later. We place a metal mesh at the bottom of each box so that it extends slightly over the edges of the fences.

5. How to protect the soil in a high bed from washing out into the main soil. To do this, we use regular packing cardboard in two layers so that it covers the entire bottom of our garden box. If there are not enough solid pieces, we use scraps of cardboard and staple them to the main piece so that the cardboard at the bottom of the box does not move when pouring soil.

6. The soil for high beds should be light, crumbly and “fluffy”. You can easily check its quality by poking your finger into the ground - if it sinks to the third joint, this is normal. To improve the soil composition, you can add peat or compost. We pour the soil into the garden box, check its horizontal level, and water it to compact it a little. During the season we will need to add a little soil.

7. Irrigation system for high beds. It is planned to attach a garden hose with watering nozzles along the contour of the raised beds: we need 90 and 180 degree dividers.

8. Trellis for high beds. Because the soil in a high bed is loose, it will not be possible to install a trellis in it, so we fix the trellis from pvc pipes into the ground next to the garden box. We stretch nets onto the trellises for climbing plants - cucumbers and beans. For tomatoes we install light supports made of steel rod.

What you need to know when building a raised bed.

1. Try to protect high beds from strong winds and heat by creating partial shade with trellises of flowers or tall shrubs.

2. The long side of the bed should face south - this way the plants will be evenly illuminated, otherwise, more tall plants others will be obscured.

3. The planting density on a high bed is twice as high as on a regular one. This is how plants fight weeds and create a humid microclimate for the foliage.

4. High beds with sides will allow elderly people or people with back problems to easily care for their gardens.

5. High bed - warm bed. Such a bed warms up faster in the spring and if you make a mini greenhouse based on it, it will surprise you with an early and generous harvest.

6. Divide a long, high bed into square segments with cross braces to reduce soil pressure on the side walls of the bed.

Fences for raised beds.

1. Most often, wooden fences are used for clear beds. There are a few points here - do not use used wood, especially sleepers, which may contain harmful chemicals. Do not treat fresh wood with protection products unless you are sure that they are completely environmentally safe.

2. Wattle fence as a fence for a high bed. Despite all its environmental friendliness, such a fence has three significant drawbacks - the soil in the bed dries quickly from the wind, proper thermal insulation of the bed is not provided, and soil can spill out through the cracks. Everything can be fixed - use a layer of double cardboard along the inner perimeter of the fence. Eco-friendly, air gap between the sheets serves as thermal insulation, the earth no longer spills out.

3. As a fence for a high bed, you can use a metal profile, including from an old roof or fence.

5. You can make fences for a high bed with your own hands from brick or concrete. This is very good option, but you need to take into account that concrete will affect the acidity of the soil in the garden bed for 2-3 years.

6. The best fences for high beds - plastic. They do not release anything of their own into the soil, excellent thermal insulation, long service life and the ability to set any shape of the bed, unlike standard rectangular beds with wooden fences.

7. Fences for high beds made from scrap materials. You can make the sides of the beds from bottles laid like bricks on concrete mortar.

Why are raised beds needed?

High beds allow you to increase the area for a vegetable garden because... awkward slopes or poor or clogged soil can be used. Raised beds provide an eco-friendly way to control weeds and soil erosion.

Such beds warm up faster and produce more early harvest. They allow you to more economically use moisture for irrigation.

Various types of raised beds.

In addition to the traditional raised bed with high sides, there are several other types of raised beds.

1. Circular high bed. It consists of a round frame in which there is a path to the center of the bed. This form of high bed is also called a “keyhole”.

Branches, roots, paper, and compost are placed at the bottom of the bed. There is a tunnel in the middle of the bed for fresh organic waste and water.

To irrigate raised raised beds, an irrigation irrigation system is used, when water comes from a ditch between the beds - a good option for vegetable gardens that are flooded in the spring, or you can use drip irrigation, when water enters the garden bed from mini terraces.

The paths between the beds are covered with straw or large sawdust. Never step on the ground in a high bed - this will compact it and make it more difficult for the plants to receive moisture and nutrients.

Do not spare space for paths between high beds - this way you can always go there with garden wheelbarrow both for harvesting and with a new portion of humus. Spare your back - use a wheelbarrow.

If your raised beds are located next to fruit trees, perhaps, before laying out the beds, you will need to install a root barrier - dig a trench, cut off the root on the approach to the beds, install a metal sheet in the trench that will prevent the root from growing in this direction and cover the trench with soil.

Learn more about raised beds through your own experience. This topic contains many interesting finds, experiments and new discoveries for every gardener.

This article describes all the intricacies of the process during which raised garden beds are created with your own hands: photos and detailed descriptions of the technology, types of structures, their purpose and features, advantages and disadvantages. Specificity of vertical products intended for growing strawberries, cucumbers and other crops, recommendations for their production.

Do-it-yourself raised beds at the dacha: photoand design features

The construction of raised beds opens up new opportunities for growing crops in the garden. This approach to organizing plantings allows you to create on the site interesting design, effectively grow berries, fruits and vegetables. It becomes possible to get a wonderful harvest from a plot whose soil is not particularly fertile.

Warming up of tall structures occurs much faster than that of ordinary beds. The process of caring for plants is simplified because a person does not have to bend too low.

Note! Organic matter is used as filler for raised beds. Due to the fact that plant roots are located in a nutrient medium, crops grow faster and produce a rich harvest.

Features of raised beds: pros and cons of designs

The construction of such structures is accompanied by minimal costs, therefore, summer residents prefer to make high beds for strawberries and vegetables.

Advantages of raised structures:

• the availability of a crop does not depend on the quality and composition of the soil on the site. Thanks to this, summer residents and gardeners can grow plants in areas with rocky surfaces or heavy clay soil;
• beds simplify the process of cultivating the land and do not require extensive care. You only need to dig the ground twice. The first time is in the spring, when the plant is planted, the second time the procedure is done in the fall after harvesting;
• for processing it is not necessary to dig the soil deeply; it is enough to stir the soil with a garden fork;

• The production of high beds is as simple as possible, as is the procedure for dismantling them. The placement of structures can be easily changed if you want to create new design Location on;
• the space inside the product is limited, so removing weeds is not difficult;
• accelerated ripening of vegetables in high beds is facilitated by good drainage system, which is organized inside the structure;
• the soil in high beds is protected from freezing, which often happens in the spring when frost returns. During early autumn frosts, it is enough just to cover the plantings with tarpaulin or polyethylene so that they do not die;
• the construction of high beds for strawberries allows you to save the berries from being washed away by rainstorms, which often destroy the crop.

The designs have few disadvantages. They consist in the need for enhanced mineral fertilizing and frequent watering. You will also need to keep an eye on the mole cricket. This pest loves to live in high beds.

How to make a raised garden bed with your own hands: common technologies

Most in demand among owners summer cottages the following types of beds:

• triangular shaped mounded gardens;
• multi-tiered structures;
• trapezoidal bulk beds;
• decorative vegetable gardens.

Note! Setting up raised beds does not require large expenditures. Many summer residents use improvised materials for these purposes. In most cases, to create raised beds, it is enough to buy bricks, as well as a mixture that improves soil quality and drainage.

To build a high, triangular-shaped mound garden, you only need a shovel. The dimensional parameters of the bed are selected taking into account what plants will be grown. The size of the root system of crops is taken into account. The maximum permissible height of a bulk garden is 0.3 m, the width is about 0.7 m. In the process of filling the bed with soil, there is no need to compact the soil.

A similar scheme is used to create a trapezoidal bed. The upper part of the bulk garden should not exceed 0.3 m in width. You can use boards to cover the upper slopes. It is also possible to use mulch, which in a positive way will affect the condition of the soil.

Suitable for making a multi-tiered bed for strawberries with your own hands profile pipe or fittings. Metal structural elements are fastened by welding or bolting. Ready frame base containers or boxes filled with soil are put on.

Making raised beds: photo and choice of material

Fences on high beds are needed to ensure that the soil with plants is inside the structure. Most often, beams or boards are used for construction. Do-it-yourself technologies for making high beds from slate are also popular.

Wood is considered traditional material, allowing you to create practical and reliable designs for high beds. Slate is also popular, but less environmentally friendly. In addition, he has one significant drawback– fragile structure. During the construction of a vegetable garden, this material can be damaged if the rules for handling it are neglected.

The most durable and strong beds are made from brick or stone. Large elements are connected using concrete mortar. Concrete itself is often used, when working with which you should carefully consider the shape, dimensional parameters and location of the garden, since the bed in this case will be stationary and it will not be possible to move it over time. When making structures from concrete, stone or brick, it is important not to overdo it with the thickness and width of the frame. In massive products, the earth will not be able to warm up quickly.

Summer residents also use other budget materials:

• empty bottles;
• old plastic boxes;
• ready-made structures in the form of plastic fencing.

Note! Construction of high beds from plastic panels is the most budget method get a vegetable garden. You can even find plastic slate in the assortment of individual stores.

Features of raised beds by Igor Lyadov: design of beds, photos and parameters

Igor Lyadov’s beds are based on technology invented at the end of the twentieth century by Jacob Mittlider. The American worked on creating optimal designs for growing strawberries. These products are distinguished from ordinary box beds by their reduced width - only 45 cm. Any material can be used to make the sides, but boards are most often used.

Fertile soil and a layer of sawdust are used as filler. Mittlider set aside a width of 0.9 m for the paths between the structures. To prevent the growth of weeds in this area, the vegetable grower spread agrofibre.

Unlike his American colleague, Igor Lyadov suggests using organic matter rather than mineral supplements. He became the author of several recipes, which include such traditional fertilizers as bird droppings and manure, as well as herbs. The design of the beds looks somewhat different in the photo. Lyadov's high beds are 0.6-1 m wide.

Between the structures there are passages 0.6-0.8 m wide. This area can be covered with roofing felt, sand, tiles or sawdust to make it easier to move along the plantings and not think about weeds. The space between the paths between the beds is often sown with lawn grass. But in this case, you will have to periodically mow the vegetation so that the passages look neat and do not go beyond their boundaries.

Note! Igor Lyadov strictly indicated the placement of the beds. Plantings should be placed from north to south. This is the only way the plants will be provided with the necessary level of sunlight.

Do-it-yourself raised bed: how to make itwooden structure

The technology provides for the construction of a bed, the width of which is 180 cm, length - 3 m, height - 40 cm. However, the dimensional parameters of the structure can be changed taking into account the area of ​​the summer cottage. At the first stage of construction, the optimal location for placing the vegetable garden is selected. It is better if the selected area is illuminated by the sun for at least 5 hours throughout the day. Even a place unsuitable for growing crops, such as a vacant lot, is suitable for this purpose.

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After this, the design of the beds at the dacha is developed; photos of interesting placement options can be found on the Internet or in gardening magazines. Before construction begins, the site is cleared of debris, stones and rhizomes of perennial weeds. Annual weeds do not need to be removed, since the need for this procedure disappears during the initial digging of the territory.

First, the fences are prepared. To do this, you will need to cut the material so that you get 4 boards 1.8 m long and 4 boards 3 m long. In addition, you should prepare wooden blocks, each 40 cm high. At the ends of the boards intended for assembling the frame, a cut should be made at an angle of 45°.

Before you begin assembling the frame, you should process wooden elements special impregnation or antiseptic to stop rotting processes and prevent rapid deterioration of the material, which can be caused by exposure to moisture. WITH outside the boards can be painted or coated with a varnish. For decorative purposes, patterns can be applied to the surface. After waiting for it to dry completely, you can begin assembling the box. If the bed design provides two levels, each of the tiers is fastened with beams.

Helpful advice! To protect the plantings from moles and rodents, it is recommended to nail a net at the bottom.

How to fill a raised bed made of boards with your own hands

Filling the high bed is carried out in the following order:

• The drainage system is laid as the first layer; to organize it, tree bark is used, which needs to be crushed, fallen leaves, small twigs and wood shavings;
• the second layer is formed from fertilizers; manure is well suited for organizing this layer; it is better if it is rotted;
• a water-permeable material is used as the third layer; it is performed in the same way as the first layer;
• The basis for the fourth layer is organic matter; this layer can be supplemented mineral fertilizer complex purpose;
• the fifth layer is fertile soil, the composition of the soil depends on the plants that will be grown in the garden bed, minimum thickness fertile layer – 10 cm.

After the bed is filled, it should be watered generously and allowed to sit for 2-3 days so that all the layers can settle. It is not recommended to immediately start sowing or planting seedlings. It is better to keep the bed for some time so that it has time to warm up well. To do this, you need to cover the structure with black material. Polyethylene will do.

Helpful advice! If the construction of the beds is carried out in late summer or autumn, the structure should be left covered until spring.

Making vertical beds with your own hands: photos and technologies

Vertical beds are used for growing spices and berries. The advantages of such structures are associated with a decorative appearance, saving space and protecting crops from birds and various pests.

The construction of vertical beds will be an excellent solution for planting crops that require a lot of space on the site. These structures are ideal for growing herbs, strawberries, flowers, strawberries. Moreover, owners of summer cottages can not only build them themselves, but also buy ready-made vertical beds in one of the specialized stores.

Why is it profitable to create or buy a vertical bed for strawberries?

There are many design options for vertical beds, but their main advantage is their compact size. Moreover, this advantage of the products will be beneficial not only to owners of small summer cottages, but also to people who want to grow herbs or berries on their balcony. Lightweight bed made from plastic bottles, is best suited for these purposes.

Vertically installed beds do not require complex maintenance. The plantings are at a sufficient height to allow weeding or harvesting to be carried out in comfortable conditions. To do this, you do not need to bend low and endure back pain. In this case, the plants and their roots are raised high above the ground, out of reach of rodents and small pests. Pyramid or cylinder-shaped beds make it difficult for birds to land comfortably to eat the berries.

Prices for ready-made structures:

product name	price, rub.
Agrotextile bed	150
Plastic mesh bed	490
Pipe with holes	1500
Pipe with holes	3200
Vertical ladder	4700

Making a pyramid bed for strawberries with your own hands: dimensions and technology

For work you will need the following tools and materials:

• jigsaw or hacksaw;
• edged board size 40×5×20 cm (11 pcs.);

• screwdriver and set of screws;
• pencil and tape measure;
• seedlings and soil.

To create the base, 4 support boards are used. To make them, you can cut a board 2 m long. It is recommended to make cuts at an acute angle so that it is convenient to connect the pieces later.

Helpful advice! To increase the rigidity of the structure, an additional pillar should be placed in the central part of the pyramidal bed to act as a support.

After this, a pair of boards 2 m long, with an angular cut at the edges, are laid on a horizontal plane and connected to each other. A rail is mounted into the base to organize the future bed and is fixed on both sides. The dimensions of this element are 5x40x5 cm. The resulting side of the pyramid should be installed vertically and the second and third sides should be secured to it. They are made in a similar way.

When the frame part of the pyramid is ready, use a tape measure to measure the length of the slats intended for making beds. They should be placed in increments of 25-30 cm. To secure the slats, you will need to cut the ends at an angle of 30° to make the shelf raised. Upon completion of assembly, the structure is filled with soil, which should be compacted. The products can also be successfully used for growing vegetables and herbs.

Technology for making vertical beds for strawberries from plastic pipes

This design option is great not only for growing strawberries, but also for greens.

List necessary tools and materials:

• plastic pipes of the required length with a large diameter;
• steel cable (can be replaced with thick fishing line);
• construction knife for cutting pipes.

The large diameter of the pipes is necessary so that the pipe cut in half can accommodate the amount of soil required for growing plants. The product is cut lengthwise. To fix the beds in a vertical position, holes should be made on both sides of each half. A steel cable or thick fishing line is passed through them. The halves are placed one above the other according to the principle of a ladder. The number of such half-levels can be unlimited.

Note! Since the structure can swing when suspended, it is recommended to install the bed in places protected from the wind.

Do-it-yourself construction of vertical beds from construction mesh

Small vegetable gardens created on the basis of a building grid are suitable for growing strawberries, flowers, herbs or potatoes. To work you will need:

• construction metal mesh;
• the soil;
• straw;
• tool for cutting metal wire.

To create a bed, you will need to bend a rectangular piece of mesh into the shape of a pipe, the diameter of which is 0.9 m. Using wire or other devices, the edges of the section must be fastened in this position. Straw is placed on the sides inside the structure. Thanks to this, the soil will not spill out. The free space is filled.

If you intend to grow potatoes, the first level of plants should be located at a height of 50 cm from the ground. Approximately 10 cm should be left between crops. After this, the first layer is shed, 50 cm of soil is laid again and the plants are planted. A tower bed can have any height. To give a vertical bed a more attractive appearance, you can use black film instead of straw.

Technologies for making vertical beds for strawberries with your own hands from pots

Flower pots can be used successfully to grow strawberries. Such designs have a decorative appearance. Clay or plastic products. The result is a multi-level design. The number of such levels is limited only by personal wishes. Pots are selected so that each subsequent one has a smaller diameter than the previous one. It is desirable that the difference in size between each pair of pots be approximately the same.

The largest pot is placed in the chosen location and filled with soil. After this, a smaller pot is placed in it, etc. When the structure is ready, plants are planted in the soil and watered.

The next option is based on pots of the same diameter. Only one of them should be large. It will be installed at the very base of the structure. A metal rod or wooden stick should be placed inside a large pot.

Note! The size of the rod must be selected so that its diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole located at the base of the pot.

The pot is filled with soil. The remaining products are strung one by one onto a rod through a hole at the bottom. The result is a multi-tiered structure with pots that seem to balance on top of each other. They are filled with soil, where plants are then planted.

If there is a tall stump or pole on the site, the pots can be fixed to it. Under no circumstances should this be done on a living tree. Products are fixed around the circumference in any order. The spiral looks beautiful from the outside. You can also use the technique of placing pots in a checkerboard pattern. The only drawback of this garden bed is the inconvenient watering system.

Manufacturing technology and photos of vertical beds for strawberries made from tires with your own hands

A tower made from car tires is made in exactly the same way as a structure made from flower pots. Tires of different diameters are selected for construction. This material has a significant drawback. Old car tires are not environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is recommended to create such beds for one-time use, and after a year to build new ones from other tires.

Before starting work, car tires need to be prepared:

• thoroughly clean them of dirt and stones;
• dry;
• paint if necessary.

After this, the largest tire should be laid on one side. On the other hand, the side part with the hole for the disk is cut off. The finished element is filled with soil and planted with plants. You should do the same with other tires and install them one on top of the other so that the size of each next one is smaller size previous one.

Helpful advice! Car tires can be beautifully decorated, as is usually done with flower beds made from this material. For these purposes, you can use bright colors, patterns, or make decorative cuts.

Making your own raised beds for strawberries from scrap materials

Plants will look great in a bed made from a bag. This design can be conveniently placed on a fence, wall of a gazebo, house, barn or any other permanent building. To work, you will need a bag made of plastic or natural fabric. Burlap is much better in terms of performance. It is environmentally friendly and, unlike plastic, is reusable. The fact is that artificial materials undergo rapid destruction under the influence of the sun.

On the other hand, burlap has a good throughput, providing air access to the plants. To prevent the bottom and sides of the bag from breaking through over time under the influence of gravity, it is recommended to stitch them several times. A loop is made at the top of the product for hanging. On one side of the bag there are holes for planting plants. After this, the bed can be filled with soil and planted.

Multi-tier structures can be made from wooden or plastic boxes of different sizes. They are stacked one on top of the other with a gradual decrease in dimensional parameters. This ladder of boxes can be painted in a bright color and laid around a tree or pole.

Helpful advice! You can use an old chest of drawers to create a garden bed by pulling out its drawers and filling them with soil. Other unnecessary furniture will also be suitable for these purposes.

Recommendations for creating vertical beds for strawberries

Before you start making a vegetable garden, it would be useful to take into account some tips on optimal construction designs:

• if the bed is large, assembly must be carried out directly at the site of its installation, otherwise problems with transportation may arise, during which the product can be damaged;

• a decorative garden with berries should be placed strictly in the sun. If the vertical bed will be used for growing herbs, then its structure can be located not far from the kitchen;
• The soil for filling the beds should be prepared in advance. For berries, sandy loam soil mixed with peat, fertilizer and hydrogel is suitable. Quail compost is optimal as a feed;
• you need to think in advance about a system that will protect the beds from frost in winter time. Will the structure be covered or brought indoors;
• It is recommended to locate the garden closer to the water source to make it more convenient to regularly water the plants.

Note! The construction of vertical beds for cucumbers is also welcomed by many summer residents. Most of designs are made by analogy with products for strawberries. Since cucumbers belong to the category of climbing crops, the bed should be supplemented with supports to which the plants will cling.

Making vertical beds for cucumbers with your own hands: photos of interesting designs

A vertical bed for cucumbers can be represented by various design options. Most often, bags or products made of plastic are used to grow these crops. The surface for fixing the beds can be the walls of buildings, nets or shields, as well as all kinds of partitions. You can create a vertical bed for cucumbers with your own hands inside plastic pipe. This product is closed on one side and hung vertically on the crossbars.

A net made of plastic is considered the simplest option for organizing a decorative garden for cucumbers. The product is positioned vertically and the plants rise up the grid as they grow. This type of garden bed can be purchased ready-made or you can make it yourself. To do this, you will need a thick fishing line and straight tree branches that will serve as supports. They are placed in a circle with equal spacing and at the top they are connected at one point so that a peculiar resemblance to a hut is obtained.

Using thick fishing line, you need to walk around the circle, forming a vertical base to secure the plants as they grow. If you plan to build a bed in the form of a net for cucumbers, it is strictly forbidden to use metal products for these purposes. Such structures will overheat on hot summer days and injure the plants, leaving burns on them. A safe option for growing cucumbers are bags or canvas bags.

For construction vertical structures the use of unusual materials is allowed, for example, pallets, old furniture, empty stumps, etc. An unusual approach to decor will allow you to create not only a vegetable garden, but a beautiful decorative composition, which will optimally fit into the space of the summer cottage.