I like using raised beds for several reasons. They are easier to work in than in-ground beds and if you build them out of a sturdy enough material you can sit on the side to work the garden. The soil warms faster and filling the bed gives you more control over the growing medium, especially useful if you have poor, rocky, or contaminated soil. Finally, if there are ground-dwelling rodents eating your veggies, you can line the bottom of the raised bed with 1/4" hardware cloth to prevent entry from below. I also like the orderly look and defined growing space that raised beds create. In the past, I've been able to build beds with recycled plastic lumber- sturdy and indestructible for large-scale public use. The downside is the expense. So for our first round of garden beds, I opted for a lighter weight and less expensive option. The cedar beds I bought from Greenes Fence Co were easy to put together and I did a few things to try to prolong their life.
First, I purchased an eco-friendly wood treatment from Vermont Natural Coatings in the cedar color.
That should help keep the wood from turning silver with age. Then I lined the inside of the beds with fairly heavy-duty landscape fabric. In this case, I didn't worry about lining the whole bed, but just enough to keep the soil and water from running out between the wood slats or out the bottom.
After that, my friend offered to pick up 1cyd of American Soil and Stone "Local Hero Veggie Blend" to fill the beds. I mixed it with some bagged potting mix. It didn't take too long to empty the truck and fill the garden bed. Time to plant!
