The raised bed makes it much easier to grow vegetables. But the construction of a raised bed takes time, and the acquisition costs are not to be scoffed at either. So it's good if it can be used for a long time afterwards. The hard larch wood has proven to be the best building material.

Larch is often used for raised beds

The advantages of larch wood

A raised bed is exposed to the weather, wind and sun eat away at the wood. If you want to build the raised bed yourself, you have to choose a type of wood that can withstand these challenges well.

Larch wood is the first choice because it offers the following advantages:

  • among the softwoods it is the heaviest and hardest wood
  • it is permanently resilient
  • Water doesn't bother him much
  • can be used outdoors without treatment
  • is ecologically compatible, is cultivated in this country

Plan the raised bed in detail

Ready-made kits made of larch wood are sold in the trade, but they are not exactly cheap. A bed two meters long costs more than 300 euros. But you can also build the bed yourself and certainly save a lot of money. You will find everything you need in a well-stocked hardware store. But first you should determine the size of the raised bed. An ideal bed is rectangular and has the following dimensions:

  • Height: approx. 85 cm above the ground surface
  • Width: approx. 1 m
  • Length: 2 to 6 m

Measure carefully whether there is enough space in the garden for the desired bed size. Also keep in mind that most yielding plants need a lot of sun during the day to produce plenty of fruit.

Necessary material

For a raised bed you need a few materials, the quantities of which you still have to calculate depending on the size of the raised bed.

  • 2.5 to 5 cm thick larch slats for the sides
  • at least four squared timbers for stabilization
  • in the case of long bed sides, one additional squared timber per meter of length
  • Ground sockets and post caps
  • suitable fastening material
  • Pond liner to line the sides
  • tight wire mesh (14.99€) as protection against voles (for the bottom and the lower part of the sides)
  • wire

tips

If you ask the hardware store if you can cut the slats to the required length, you will save a lot of time and work.

Helpful tool

If you build a raised bed made of larch wood yourself, you need tools that make your work easier. Are important:

  • tape measure
  • hammer
  • Cordless screwdriver and drill if necessary
  • saw
  • staple gun

With a large bed, it can't hurt to get an additional worker to help. Screwing is easier when four hands are at work. It's definitely more fun too.

Do without chemical wood preservatives

You can completely do without chemical wood protection when building a raised bed made of larch wood, which is why this step is omitted in the following instructions. This type of wood copes well with moisture for years. Another advantage is that the wood is installed in such a way that it can dry quickly and easily.

instructions for construction

  1. Mark the spot with a piece of string.
  2. Determine the location for the posts and ram the ground sockets into the ground. You can use the hammer for this. The ground sockets provide a firm hold and protect the wood from long-lasting soil moisture.
  3. Insert the posts and fix them stably.
  4. Now you can plank the sides. If the slats don't fit, you can use a saw to cut them to the right length.
  5. Attach the short boards to the insides of the posts and the long boards to the outside. Be sure to start from the bottom.
  6. After you have installed two rows, the grid against voles must be attached. First cut the piece for the bottom and then four pieces for the sides. Connect these parts with wire and staple the construction to the planks.
  7. Attach the remaining planks.
  8. Attach the post caps.
  9. Line the walls of the raised bed with the pond liner, but leave out the bottom. Staple the top of the film to the side planks.
  10. The raised bed is finished and ready for filling.

Category:

Vegetable garden