Cedar Raised Garden Beds
Cara Baxter
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (22)
laceyvail 6A, WV
4 years agoCara Baxter
4 years agoRelated Discussions
What to Mix into Raised Bed
Comments (8)Well peat moss is essential for my raised beds. To suggest not using it without knowing intent is bad advice. What you're growing can influence what is best to put in the bed. Compost and peat, which is a form of compost, will eventually breakdown and have to be replaced. In most cases this is not a problem, but say you plan on putting trees in the bed, probably a bad idea to use peat and compost, unless you mound the trees in the bed. Still a bad idea as the roots will not grow well outside the bed, thus limiting the tree's potential. I'm also not sure why you want raised beds? This can influence what you put in too. Unless trying to keep gophers out, I would mix in some native soil from the bottom. Break it up, add some soil and mix it. So you don't have a clear change in soil. That the amended soil slowly turns to native soil on the bottom. This way plants can grow well past the bed into the ground. Such as tomato plants which can grow roots 4 feet long. For blueberries I use peat and pine bark fines. For veggies I use Garden soil, peat and compost. Top soil is the poorest soil around. I would not use it. It's cheap, lacks nutrients, and is fairly useless. Well I like to use it to fill holes in the yard, etc. For trees I would use native soil, and maybe top soil if you don't have enough native soil. You really want the bed to match local soil for trees. If money is an issue, you can use top soil, just add 1/2 compost, 1/2 top soil, and it should be decent. I like using peat, but it is probably not a good idea in the south or the west. It becomes too dry. I only use a small amount of peat 1/5 of total at most. I'm in the Midwest. I also add some kind of mineral, rock phosphate, azomite, green sand, maybe Iron tone. I like to add a bag of worm castings too, and some cheap organic fertilizer, like alfalfa meal. Here's some of my raised beds...See MoreElevated Cedar Raised Bed, 2' X 8'
Comments (1)I haven't seen raised bed kits that tall before Dowbright. What did you plant in yours?...See MoreBuilding Raised Beds Cedar or PT Wood? How Thick?
Comments (18)I thought of using cedar, but when I priced it, it was way too expensive and didn't make sense to do it. And I'm sorry to say, but if you're trying to grow as much food as you can, two 4x4 beds are not very much and I think that is a lot of money for two small beds. I have one long bed 12" high, 11ft long and 4ft wide. I have four beds 12" high, 4ft x 4ft. I made them with Pine because I had some already and didn't have to buy much more. It's actually been about 8 years since we built them and they are ready to be replaced now. Now I want to double the square footage that I can grow in. So I want to build… Two beds 12" high, 16ft long, 4ft wide Six beds 12" high, 6ft long, 4ft wide That doubles my growing space. I don't feel I need deeper beds, because vegetables are annuals and I've read somewhere recently that they don't really need 18" deep beds. 12" is just right for me and I don't mind bending and kneeling. So less wood. I priced what cedar I could find and it was going to cost me over $600. to build those beds. I called 12 lumber yards and only two had cedar and they weren't the dimensions I wanted either. Finally, one lumber yard, said he was steering people to use Eastern Hemlock rough sawn, which is very inexpensive. It is more rot resistant than Pine but less than Cedar. Estimates were 5yrs for Pine, 8-10 years for Hemlock, and 15yrs for Cedar. I priced the Hemlock and it was going to cost me $198. to build the same beds. So, if I built the hemlock and had to replace them in 10 years for another $200. It would still be $200. less than building the cedar beds, and would last me 5yrs longer....See MoreRaised Cedar Garden Beds, Termites and Heat!
Comments (3)Cedar, especially if it's heartwood (reddish brown, instead of straw color) is one of the longest lasting woods in the desert. On the other hand, that may mean a useful life of only 5 years--as opposed to a life of one year for pine! Termites dislike the scent of cedar, so it is protected from them until the oils dry out. Splitting is caused by dehydration, mainly, especially when the wood was insufficiently cured at the sawmill. Look for kiln-dried heartwood for maximum service life. Otherwise build the beds out of concrete or masonry. Good luck! : )...See Morefloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years agoCara Baxter
4 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years agoJamie
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoCara Baxter
4 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years agoCara Baxter
4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoCara Baxter
4 years agoYardvaark
4 years agoCara Baxter
4 years agomad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
4 years agoEmbothrium
4 years agoCara Baxter
4 years agoChristopher CNC
4 years agomad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
4 years agoSeabornman
4 years agoEmbothrium
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGBuild a Raised Bed to Elevate Your Garden
A bounty of homegrown vegetables is easier than you think with a DIY raised garden bed to house just the right mix of soils
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENS7 Tips to Ensure Success With Raised Bed Gardening
Raised bed gardening is a favorite for edible plants. Here’s how to get it right
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES8 Materials for Raised Garden Beds
Get the dirt on classic and new options for raised vegetable and plant beds, to get the most from your year-round garden
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDRaised Beds for Every Garden Style
There’s a raised bed design for every landscape, from traditional to contemporary
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGRaised Beds Lift Any Garden
From good old-fashioned wood garden boxes to modern metal troughs, raised beds can make any landscape space look great
Full StorySPRING GARDENINGInspiring Raised Beds for Fall and Spring Planting
Make Your Next Vegetable Garden Even Better with Beautiful Boxes and Paths
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants
Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy
Full StoryPLANTING IDEASSilvery Plants Brighten Garden Beds
Add shimmer to shade gardens and harmonize mixed borders with this icy foliage hue
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGVertical Gardens Raise the Limits for Landscapes
Turn a small garden space into a towering success with an upward-bound collection of edible delights
Full StoryEARTH DAYAdd Layers to Garden Beds for Beauty and Sustainability
You can renew nature at home by filling in gaps with native plants and extending the bloom season
Full Story
Christopher CNC