Raised vegetable bed - what size board to use?
by
Becky P
+4
I am trying to find out what size boards we should use for the raised vegetable bed we want to build? I feel like the 6 inch tall board is not going to be tall enough, so should it be an 8 inch tall side or 12 inch? Also, I am trying to get my fiancé to understand we should not use a treated board. Really looking forward to my new beds at my new location.
7 answers
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Here are a few links on the subject, the first says 12". http://adriannewalline.blogspot.com/2014/03/tips-for-raised-bed-vegetable-garden.html This one stacks multiple 2"x6": http://adriannewalline.blogspot.com/2014/02/raised-garden-beds.html http://adriannewalline.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-build-raised-bed.html
Adrianne C
on Dec 15, 2014
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It all depends on where you are putting the bed. If you are doing a little digging, and preparing the soil underneath, (the best) 6" is fine. If you are planning on putting a bottom on the bed, and filling it with soil, 8" is fine. Going organic? Untreated Cypress is the way to go. Lasts long, resists rot etc. Pressure Treated is also chemically treated, and leeches into the soil, and you end up having plants with the same. I would NEVER use treated wood for any garden where I'm planting food. Locally, I got enough 2x6 cypress for a 4x4 plot for around $25.00. I suggest reading up on Permaculture. A wonderful site for this is http://deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/starting-your-permaculture-garden/ or do your own Google search.
Kevin Moore
on Dec 15, 2014
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I prefer to use 8" boards. You don't have to fill them completely at first. You can add good soil and compost to the beds as years go by, building it up as you can. And the extra lip you get keeps mulching materials in place, such as straw or shredded paper. If you have walnut trees anywhere in the vicinity, the higher the better, because of the juglone that the trees produce. Keeping your plant roots way above the regular soil line can really make a difference in a case like that
Debbie Luttrell
on Dec 15, 2014
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I use 2x10 boards for mine... yes I find I can add to them year after year
Terri Lamperez
on Dec 16, 2014
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I use 8 inch wide rough hewn 1 inch thick boards from the local sawmill, 8ft by 4ft.
Marion Tinney
on Dec 16, 2014
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Utah State University's Cooperative Extension Service says, "Raised bed gardens shallower than 12 inches deep should be constructed with no bottom to allow plant roots access to existing soil below the box." For more, see: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/Horticulture_Garden_2012-01pr.pdf
Douglas Hunt
on Dec 16, 2014
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I don't use boards at all !!! Instead I use cinder blocks. They can be stacked to the height you desire and easily to the shape you desire. You can then fill the interior in with soil as well as the openings of the cinder blocks with soil. I often plant herbs in the small openings of the cinder blocks. Unlike wood these concrete cinder blocks will NEVER rot away leaving you with a mess to deal with. I also choose to stacks ours 2 deep which also gives me a place to sit down to work my garden.
Elizabeth
on Dec 16, 2014
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