There is no question that a raised bed is as practical as it is useful. In addition, it can be set up in pretty much any spot in the garden, as long as the plants planted on it get enough air in their location. After you have also decided on a suitable variant, the only problem that remains is: what kind of ground does a raised bed like this need? Can I also put it on the stone tiles of the terrace? In this article you will find the answers as well as a few suggestions.

Direct contact with the earth makes sense

Raised bed should stand directly on the ground

If you want to create a compost raised bed, you should plan it with open ground and ground contact - this means the raised bed should stand directly on the ground. The reason for this is simple: This is the only way for all sorts of useful animals such as earthworms and other microorganisms important for compost preparation to migrate from the earth into the raised bed and do their useful work there. Otherwise it will be difficult to compost the desired material, even if you can buy earthworms, for example, and release them in the raised bed.

Does a raised bed have to have an open floor?

Of course, such a raised bed does not necessarily have to have an open floor and stand on bare earth, and that is not always possible. With a balcony raised bed, for example, you don't have this option at all, you need other ideas there. If the raised bed is only filled with soil (instead of compostable material), it is basically just a larger planter anyway and can also stand on stone, tiles or another surface.

Regardless of the subsurface, water must be able to drain away

But whether it is in contact with the ground or not: Excess water, for example from the last downpour or from watering, should be able to drain off immediately. Otherwise you will soon have a raised bog bed and grow your own swamp landscape. This is another reason why open soil and contact with loose, drained soil are so important: the water simply runs through the bed and seeps into the ground. If there is a solid surface made of stone, tiles or wood, you must find other drainage options.

This is how you prepare the optimal substrate for the raised bed

The optimal subsoil for the raised bed is evenly level and with firm, but still loose and permeable soil. It is best to prepare the subsoil before building the bed as follows:

  • Find a suitable location.
  • Mark out the desired space for the raised bed with its dimensions.
  • Dig a shallow pit of that size.
  • Remove turf (pick it up!), larger rocks, and pull out root weeds.
  • Loosen the soil in the bed subsoil a little.
  • If necessary, cover the area with a weed fleece (€21.70).
  • Set up the raised bed.
  • Lay rabbit wire in the bottom of the bed as a vole deterrent.
  • Fill in the drainage layer as the first layer.

Both inorganic materials such as stones or organic materials such as coarse wood cuttings, larger branches and even tree stumps are suitable for the drainage layer. Be sure to fill in the gaps well. You can then fill the raised bed as desired.

tips

Due to their higher weight, stone raised beds always require a firmer foundation, either made of pebbles and crushed stone or even concrete.

Category:

Vegetable garden