A raised bed made of stone has many advantages over one made of wood. Stone raised beds have an almost unlimited lifespan and blend harmoniously into a naturally designed garden. On the other hand, once they have been installed, they can no longer be easily implemented, and the acquisition and construction costs are quite high. However, these can be lowered if you use boulders.
A raised bed made of field stones is cheap and looks attractive
Collect yourself instead of buying expensive
In some regions of Germany, boulders were often used in the construction of houses or churches in the past centuries - these buildings still stand unshakable today and offer a fascinating, rustic sight. There are boulders of many sizes, shapes and colors in every field - all you have to do is make the effort and collect them. It is best to ask the farmer in question beforehand whether they are allowed to collect stones on his land. But he will probably be glad that you relieve him of the tedious work of collecting stones - the large chunks hinder the work in the fields.
Field stones are also very heavy
In this way you can get beautiful natural stones for free, but they have to be brought home somehow. Larger quantities of boulders can weigh very heavily, so you have to drive off with a suitable transporter - the vehicle must be designed for heavier loads, but your own family carriage will not suffice. Also, make sure you have help - carrying rocks alone is beyond tiring over time.
Dry wall vs. mortared wall
Field stones can be used in the same way as purchased natural stones: You can build them into both dry and mortared walls. Dry stone walls should be no more than 60 to 80 centimeters high and should be secured with filling material in the spaces between the individual stones for reasons of stability. You can also fill the joints with soil and plant, then the result will look particularly natural. Mortared walls should have a firm, preferably concrete foundation and possibly even concrete casing with reinforcing iron on the inside - otherwise the weight of the stones will push them outwards. For a dry wall, on the other hand, a gravel or crushed stone bed is usually sufficient as a foundation.
tips
Straight brick raised bed walls made of fieldstone are ideal for building a raised bed directly on a slope. But field stones are also very suitable as fillings for gabions.