Building A Raised Bed Herb Garden

When I first got started growing herbs, flowers and vegetables in my garden, I didn't have a lot of money for supplies. I got some great books that told me exactly what to do to grow fabulous plants at home. Do you want to know the secret? Prepare great soil!

Plants need a good foundation to thrive. Their roots provide moisture, nutrient elements and even air. They also create a stable base from which herbs and other plants can send their leaves, stalks and shoots soaring into the sky.

Unfortunately, not a lot of us have perfect beds in our back yards. My soil has too much clay. It's very wet during the winter and it gets as hard as concrete in the summertime. Some people tussle with sandy soil that loses moisture very quickly. Raised beds are an excellent answer to the problem of having poor soil. Even if you don't have poor soil, they can provide excellent drainage and nutrients for your plants.

When you build a raised bed for your herbs, you provide them an amazing oppotunity to grow unimpeded.

You can frame your rasied beds with any materials you have on hand. I built my raised beds with concrete blocks. Some people use hay bales. You can also use landscaping timbers, but use caution not to use chemically treated timbers or rail road ties as these are full of pollutants that will leach dangerous chemicals into your soil. This is never a bonus, but its especially damaging if you're going to be eating the plants you grow.

How Deep Do Your Garden Beds Need To Be?

A good goal is to have your beds raised 6-12' above the regular soil line, depending on what soil conditions are like underneath. I have seen some raised bed gardens planted on top of a concrete drive.
The Dirt On Raised Bed Gardens

The final step in building raised beds for your herb garden or plant garden is filling the bed with soil. Another important factor is enriching the soil with organic material. Making your own compost is the cheapest option, but you may buy compost, potting soil, and other glorious high quality soil mixes at the garden center.

Making raised beds is a great weekend garden project.