What Type of Garden Bed Should You Make?

There probably hasn’t been a better time to garden before now. If you’re looking to dig in the dirt and want to take a stab at using raised garden beds, Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator Joe Crumbley highlights a few key points to help get you started.

Raised garden beds are a great way to grow food instantly when there is a concern over potential soil contaminants. Instructions on building raised garden beds can be found here. Additionally, raised beds can be made out of cement or stone landscaping blocks, horse troughs, or even upright logs used as the border of the raised bed.

Some materials to avoid include pressure treated wood, wood with paint or varnish, and deciduous wood. Railroad ties, pressure treated, painted, or varnished wood isn’t ideal because of the chemicals they contain, and deciduous woods aren't ideal due to their faster breakdown over time when compared with coniferous (evergreen) varieties.

Sod removal is another option used for making garden beds. It must be at least 10 feet away from the house and a good distance from main roads. This is recommended if you have good soil with no drainage issues, or if you are willing to use soil amendments. 

Other methods for those gardening in small space include utilization of pallets, hanging flower baskets, or even hay bales. Hanging flower baskets can be used for growing herbs for your pantry, while pallets and hay bales can be used for shallow root vegetables such as leafy greens. 

If you have questions about how you can best use your space to garden, please reach out to Joe at jcrumbley@snohomishcd.org for more information.