Materials & Tools
Timber, Bricks, Wood Screws,
Compost / Soil,
Plastic sheet, panels, or vinyl flooring.
Measuring tape, String, Pegs,
Spade, Fork, Hammer, Axe, Saw,
Drill & bits
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Step 1
Peg out the area where the bed
will be situated. Beds can be as long as desired, but should be
no more than 1.2 metres / 4 feet wide, to allow you to reach the
centre from both sides without standing on the soil. |
![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds1_small.jpg) |
Step 2
Remove any grass and weeds from
the area. In some areas you may get away with covering the area
with a layer of cardboard, however our allotment site has a lot
of couch grass and horsetails, which will not be killed by
excluding light, and should be dug out, along with deep-rooted
weeds like dandelions and docks.
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![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds2_small.jpg) |
Step 3
Lay a row of bricks all around
the perimeter. These will prevent the frame sitting in wet soil,
and will help prolong the life of the timber. |
![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds3_small.jpg) |
Step 4
Cut the timber for the framework
and screw the boards together at each corner.
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![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds4_small.jpg) |
Step 5
Line the timber with an
impervious layer of plastic sheeting, plastic panels or vinyl
flooring. Again, this will
help prolong the life of the timber.
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![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds5_small.jpg) |
Step 6
Sharpen one end of four posts
using a hand-axe.
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![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds6_small.jpg) |
Step 7
Drive a stake into each corner of
the bed. Screw through the frame to secure it to the stakes.
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![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds7_small.jpg) |
Step 8
Fill the bed with soil, compost
or a mixture of both. It is worth sieving the soil to remove any
weeds, stones, glass, plastic etc. |
![](../images/Garden/2018/Raised%20Beds8_small.jpg) |
Example 1
Flagstones lifted from the left
side of the area. |
![](../images/Garden/2020/Jan%2020d_small.JPG) |
Example 2
Laying bricks around the
perimeter of the bed.
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![](../images/Garden/2020/Jan%2020e_small.JPG) |
Example 3
The pads of mortar removed, and
the underlying soil dug and weeded. Timber frame fitted, lined
and screwed to the corner-posts.
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![](../images/Garden/2020/Jan%2020f_small.JPG) |
Example 4
Filling the finished beds with
soil.
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![](../images/Garden/2020/Jan%2021a_small.JPG) |
Example 5
Topped of with a thick layer of
spent compost.
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![](../images/Garden/2020/Jan%2021b_small.JPG) |
Example 6
Weed-mat covers in place to
suppress weeds until the beds were required.
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![](../images/Garden/2020/Jan%2021c_small.JPG) |