What Size Should Garden Beds Be?

Practical Considerations

• When planning garden beds, make them small enough so you can easily work them. One advantage of using raised beds is that the soil doesn't become compacted through foot traffic. Make raised beds no larger than 3 to 4 feet wide so you can reach into the bed from both sides to pull weeds or harvest vegetables. Make the beds as long as you like, typically 4 feet or 8 feet long.

Aesthetics

• Scale garden beds to your home and lot size. If you have a small home on a small lot, a large bed is out of place. Consider your home and landscape' style. Long garden beds with sweeping arches and graceful curves complement traditional or formal homes, while small, tidy raised beds work well for a cottage.

Maintenance

• Consider how much time you can spend maintaining them. Large beds of perennial flowers or vegetables require at several hours per week to maintain. If you are short on time, install small beds or plant low-maintenance, xeriscape-type plants and use landscaping fabric and mulch to minimize weed growth. Start with a small vegetable garden and expand as you gain experience. A 12- by 12-foot plot is a good size for a first vegetable garden.

Materials

• Garden beds may be as simple as a small flower garden, or they may have elaborate designs or edging materials. Raised beds made from lumber or cinder blocks work well for vegetable gardens. The soil is soft and loose, so you can plant crops closer together. Install 3-foot high raised beds for those with limited mobility. Perennial beds are often edged with stone, brick or wood for a neat appearance and to keep out grass.