Constructing a raised bed
A raised bed is a good way of improving drainage and warming the temperature of the soil in spring for growing vegetables and soft fruit. But before you build one, take these factors into account.
Raised beds built from stone or brick are a permanent feature requiring footings and skilled labour so are the most costly option
Timber kits are available online or from garden centres, or you could use decking off-cuts to build raised beds from scratch
Use Tanalised timber that’s already treated with preservative but give it an additional coat, especially soaking newly cut edges
Once popular for making raised beds, old railway sleepers are no longer recommended as many are impregnated with toxic creosote. Modern sleepers are a good longlasting alternative but are expensive, heavy and hard to cut
Choose a site that provides the correct conditions for the plants you want to grow – sunny, partial shade or shade
Decide on the size, height and number of beds, then mark out with string and stakes, checking that the ground is level
Each bed should be no more than 1.5 metres wide to allow access from either side without the need to step into the bed
Paths should be a minimum width of 50cm to allow space to walk comfortably or wheel a small wheelbarrow between beds