| Why build a raised vegetable garden? | | | | The height of the bed can range from 6 inches high |
| Many people are recognizing the wisdom in growing | | | | up to waist high. Bear in mind that a higher bed will |
| their own vegetables. Not only do home-grown | | | | be more difficult to make because it will require extra |
| vegetables taste better and are better for you, but | | | | materials and also extra bracing or support to make |
| in the long run, they will be cheaper. Often, however, | | | | sure that it doesn't bow under the pressure of the |
| there is not much space for a vegetable patch. One | | | | soil. |
| way to make the best use of a small space is to | | | | Raised Vegetable Garden Materials |
| build a raised vegetable garden. A raised garden will | | | | The walls of your raised vegetable garden may be |
| enable you to plant your vegetables closer together | | | | made from timber, bricks, rocks, concrete blocks or |
| than is normally possible, giving a better harvest. And | | | | other recycled materials (such as old tires or large |
| because a raised garden bed warms up earlier in the | | | | containers). Alternatively your garden may be |
| Spring, you can extend your growing season. | | | | free-form with soil simply piled on top of the ground. |
| Raised Vegetable Garden Size | | | | You may wish to use a material which will blend in |
| You will need to position your garden bed where it | | | | with other preexisting features in your garden. There |
| will receive plenty of sun, have access to water and | | | | are certain advantages and disadvantages with each |
| will be within convenient reach from the house. Most | | | | of these different materials. |
| raised vegetable garden beds are rectangular but any | | | | Garden Paths |
| shape is possible as long as you make sure that you | | | | The pathways should be a width which is |
| can reach every part of the garden without stepping | | | | comfortable to work in - preferably at least two feet |
| onto the actual bed. So it may be prudent to make | | | | wide. A wider pathway may be desirable if you wish |
| each raised vegetable garden bed no wider than 4 | | | | to have room for a wheelbarrow or a wheelchair. |
| feet and to leave a pathway all around the outside. | | | | |