How do I Construct Raised Flower Beds?

A healthy flower garden requires 12 to 18 inches of rich soil that drains well. This rule holds for annual plantings as well as perennial flowers. If your soil is heavy clay, which does not drain well, building a raised bed is an excellent alternative to the backbreaking task of cultivating and amending the soil. Choose attractive materials to contain and border the bed, like railroad ties, fieldstone or slate, which can be found at your local garden center.

Loop-top plant stakes
String
Border material (stone, railroad ties, etc.)
Shovel
Garden soil
Peat
Sand
Organic compost

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of your raised bed in feet. Calculate the amount of border material you'll need, based on these measurements and a height of 12 inches or so. Mark out the area of the bed with loop-top plant stakes at each corner. Run a string through the loops and tie off the ends.
- 2
  Cultivate the existing soil with a shovel, turning and loosening it, removing old vegetation and weeds as you go. This will allow for deep root development beneath your raised bed.
- 3
  Build the frame to a height of at least 12 inches by stacking the stone or railroad ties. Use the stakes and twine as a guide to keep edges and lines straight and clean. If you're using railroad ties, make sure they haven't been treated with arsenic or creosote that can leach into the soil and harm plants.
- 4
  Fill the frame of the raised bed with a mixture of equal parts garden soil, peat, sand and organic compost for a rich mixture that drains well. When you're finished, soil should rise an inch or two above the edge of the bed, to allow for settling. Remove the stakes and strings, moisten your new soil thoroughly and you're ready to plant.

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