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

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.

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.
 

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.

Step 4

Cut the timber for the framework and screw the boards together at each corner.

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.

Step 6

Sharpen one end of four posts using a hand-axe.

Step 7

Drive a stake into each corner of the bed. Screw through the frame to secure it to the stakes.

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.

Example 1

Flagstones lifted from the left side of the area.

Example 2

Laying bricks around the perimeter of the bed.

Example 3

The pads of mortar removed, and the underlying soil dug and weeded. Timber frame fitted, lined and screwed to the corner-posts.

Example 4

Filling the finished beds with soil.

Example 5

Topped of with a thick layer of spent compost.

Example 6

Weed-mat covers in place to suppress weeds until the beds were required.