Building a garden box

There are several ways in which you can construct a garden box but the basic requirements are the same. Constructing a garden box is easy, inexpensive and its benefits far outweigh its cost. The following are procedures to follow when building a garden box for your raised bed gardening.

Size

The size of the garden box largely depends on your preference. However, here are some guidelines.

• Depth – here, the rooting zone of the plants is considered. Therefore 6 inches should be the minimum depth.
• The length is not important. Any length is fine as long as it meets your needs.
• Width – this should range from 3-4 feet. You can also make it a little bit wider if you are planning to access it from both sides. Keep in mind that it should be easily accessible and serviceable. You do not want to have to step inside of it.

Method I – Wooden garden box

Requirements:

• Wooden boards
• Wooden posts
• Screws
• Weed cloth
• Soil

Procedure:

1. Identify the area in which you want to construct the garden box.  Clear the area, not necessarily uprooting the grass.
2. Place the posts on the four corners just a few inches into the ground. This will be the corner posts.
3. Make the side walls by cutting the boards. Two lengths and two widths. Their length is up to you and will depend on where you placed the corner posts.
4. Now use the screws to attach the boards to the corner posts.
5. Place the weed cloth in the box and screw it to the sides. This will prevent weeds from growing into the box from below.
6. Finally, add high quality soil and nutrients into the box leaving a few inches from the top.

After completing the construction of the garden box, you are now ready to plant your seeds. It is that simple.

Method II – Brick garden box

Requirements:

• Bricks
• Weed cloth
• Soil

Procedure:

1. Decide on the size of the garden box that you want. Consider the size of the bricks so that you can decide on how many bricks you are going to use.
2. Buy the bricks and clear the ground where you want to build it.
3. Arrange the bricks in a rectangular shape. Make sure that they are fitted tightly.
4. Staple the weed cloth on the inside of the box.
5. Fill the box with quality soil and nutrients, leaving a few inches from the top.

Method III – Container garden box

Requirements:

• Old boxes/cabinets or other types of containers

Procedure:

1. Remove the paint (if any) from the inside of the container by scrubbing it. You can use sand paper or any other scrubbing device.
2. Remove the drawers if any.
3. Place the container in an appropriate location.
4. Drill holes in the bottom of the garden box to allow for drainage.
5. Fill the box with high quality soil and nutrients, leaving a few inches from the top.

Final tips:

The insides of your garden box can be lined in order to make it last longer. This will also save you some maintenance work in the long run which will let you focus on your plants instead of your garden box. Always consider the placement of your garden box in relation to the sunshine in your garden. Your plants should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.

Homemade garden boxes work great as raised flower beds.