How to Start a Raised Garden

Choose a site for the raised bed and choose your plants. These two steps go hand-in-hand, because the characteristics of the site you choose will affect what will grow there. For example, sun-loving vegetables or ornamentals will not perform in an area of heavy shade, and may die.

Mark the ground level and intended height of the raised bed wall on each stake before inserting them into the ground to keep an even, measureable grade along slopes. Marking gives you a clearer idea of the dimensions of your raised bed for calculating how much edging and fill you will need.

Mark the perimeter for a straight-edged garden by inserting stakes at the corners and tying a string tightly between the stakes along the edges. For curved beds, lay out rope or hoses to mark the perimeter.

Install edging for your raised bed. Use landscape timbers, cinderblocks, brick or stone for straight-edged beds. Plastic or metal edging, stone or interlocking pavers work for curved-edged beds. For beds that will be 2 feet or taller, or that have a seated edge, install a concrete footer and use mortar between the units that make up the walls. Landscape timbers can be joined with rebar instead of mortar.

Line the inside of the raised bed wall with polyethylene to prevent landscape timber walls from rotting. This is not necessary for most other materials.

Install an irrigation system if you will not be watering by hand or using soaker hoses.

Add garden soil. The soil should be amended and proportioned according to the requirements of the plants going into the raised garden. For deeper beds, water in the soil as you go to prevent settling and air pockets later on.

Install your plants.