How to make warm beds in the country. High beds: how and from what to make Brick beds your own

This article describes all the intricacies of the process during which high beds are created in the country with their own hands: photos and detailed descriptions of the technology, types of structures, their purpose and features, advantages and disadvantages. The specificity of vertical products intended for growing strawberries, cucumbers and other crops, recommendations for their manufacture.

Do-it-yourself high beds in the country: photoand design features

The construction of high beds opens up new opportunities for growing crops in the garden. A similar approach to organizing plantings allows you to create an interesting design on the site, effectively grow berries, fruits and vegetables. It becomes possible to get an excellent harvest from a site whose soil is not particularly fertile.

Warming up tall structures is much faster than conventional beds. The process of caring for plants is simplified because a person does not need to bend too low.

Note! Organic matter is used as a filler for high beds. Due to the fact that the roots of plants are located in a nutrient medium, crops grow faster and give a rich harvest.

Features of high beds: the pros and cons of designs

The construction of such structures is accompanied by minimal costs, so summer residents prefer to make high beds for strawberries and vegetables.

Raised beds only need to be dug twice during planting and during harvest.

Advantages of raised structures:

  • the availability of a crop does not depend on the quality and composition of the soil on the site. Thanks to this, summer residents and gardeners can grow plants in areas with a rocky surface or heavy clay soil;
  • beds simplify the process of cultivating the land, do not require enhanced care. You only need to dig the ground twice. The first time in the spring, when the plant is planted, the second time the procedure is done in the fall after harvesting;
  • for processing, it is not necessary to dig deep into the soil, it is enough to stir the soil with a garden fork;

  • the manufacture of high beds is as simple as possible, as is the procedure for dismantling them. The placement of structures can be easily changed if you want to create a new design on the site;
  • the space inside the product is limited, so it is not difficult to remove weeds;
  • the accelerated ripening of vegetables in high beds is facilitated by a good drainage system, which is organized inside the structure;
  • the soil in the high beds is protected from freezing, which often happens in the spring when frosts return. During early autumn frosts, it is enough just to cover the plantings with tarpaulin or polyethylene so that they do not die;
  • the construction of high beds for strawberries allows you to save the berries from being washed away by downpours, which often destroy the crop.

There are few design flaws. They consist in the need for enhanced mineral dressing and frequent watering. You will also need to keep an eye on the bear. This pest loves to settle on high beds.

How to make a high bed in the country with your own hands: common technologies

The following types of beds are most in demand among the owners of summer cottages:

  • bulk gardens of a triangular shape;
  • multi-tiered structures;
  • bulk beds of a trapezoidal shape;
  • decorative gardens.

For fences, it is better to take wood, the most affordable, easy-to-install and environmentally friendly material.

Note! For the arrangement of high beds does not require large expenses. Many summer residents use improvised materials for these purposes. In most cases, it is enough to create high beds to buy boards and bricks, as well as a mixture that improves soil quality and drainage.

For the construction of a high bulk garden of a triangular shape, only a shovel is needed. Dimensional parameters of the beds are selected taking into account which plants will be grown. The size of the root system of crops is taken into account. The maximum allowable height of the bulk garden is 0.3 m, the width is about 0.7 m. In the process of filling the bed with soil, it is not necessary to compact the ground.

A similar scheme is used to create a trapezoidal bed. The upper part of the bulk garden should not exceed 0.3 m in width. Boards can be used to cover the upper slopes. It is also allowed to use mulch, which will positively affect the condition of the soil.

For the manufacture of a multi-tiered bed for strawberries with your own hands, a profile pipe or fittings are suitable. Metal structural elements are fastened by welding or by bolting. Containers or boxes filled with soil are put on the finished frame base.

Making high beds: photo and material selection

Fences on high beds are needed so that the soil with plants is inside the structure. Most often, beams or boards are used for construction. Do-it-yourself technologies for making high beds from slate are also popular.

Wood is considered a traditional material that allows you to create practical and reliable designs for high beds. Slate is also popular, but less environmentally friendly. In addition, it has one significant drawback - a fragile structure. During the construction of the garden, this material can be damaged if the rules for handling it are neglected.

The most durable and strong beds are made of brick or stone. Large elements are connected using concrete mortar. Concrete itself is also often used, while working with which you should carefully consider the shape, size parameters and location of the garden, since the garden bed in this case will be stationary and it will not be possible to move it over time. In the manufacture of structures made of concrete, stone or brick, it is important not to overdo it with the thickness and width of the frame. In massive products, the earth will not be able to warm up quickly.

Summer residents also use other budget materials:

  • empty bottles;
  • old plastic boxes;
  • finished structures in the form of plastic fences.

Note! Building high beds from plastic panels is the most budgetary way to get a garden. In the assortment of individual stores you can even find plastic slate.

Features of high beds by Igor Lyadov: design of beds, photos and parameters

The beds of Igor Lyadov are based on a technology invented at the end of the 20th century by Jacob Mittlider. The American worked on the creation of optimal structures for growing strawberries. These products are distinguished from ordinary beds-boxes by their reduced width - only 45 cm. Any material can be used to make the sides, but boards are most often used.

As a filler, fertile soil and a layer of sawdust are used. Mittlider took a width of 0.9 m to the paths between the structures. To prevent the growth of weeds in this area, the vegetable grower spread agrofiber.

Unlike his American colleague, Igor Lyadov proposes to use not mineral additives, but organic matter. He is the author of several recipes that include traditional fertilizers such as bird droppings and manure, as well as herbs. The design of the beds looks somewhat different in the photo. The high beds of Lyadov have a width of 0.6-1 m.

Passages 0.6-0.8 m wide remain between the structures. This zone can be covered with roofing material, sand, tiles or sawdust, so that it is easier to move along the plantings and not think about weeds. The space of paths between the beds is often sown with lawn grass. But in this case, you will have to periodically mow the vegetation so that the passages look neat and do not go beyond their boundaries.

Note! Igor Lyadov strictly outlined the placement of the beds. Landings should be placed from the north side to the south. Only in this way will the plants be provided with the necessary level of illumination by the sun.

Do-it-yourself high garden: how to makewooden structure

The technology provides for the construction of a garden bed, the width of which is 180 cm, length - 3 m, height - 40 cm. However, the dimensional parameters of the structure can be changed taking into account the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe summer cottage. At the first stage of construction, the optimal place for the garden is selected. It is better if the selected area is illuminated during the day by the sun for at least 5 hours. For this purpose, even a place unsuitable for growing crops, for example, a wasteland, is suitable.

Related article:

Beautiful beds in the country with their own hands: photo examples and unusual solutions

After that, the design of the beds in the summer cottage is developed, photos of interesting accommodation options can be found on the Internet or in gardening magazines. Before construction begins, the site is cleared of debris, stones and rhizomes of perennial weeds. Annual weeds can not be removed, since the need for this procedure is eliminated during the initial digging of the territory.

First, the fences are prepared. To do this, you will need to cut the material so that you get 4 boards 1.8 m long and 4 boards 3 m long. In addition, wooden blocks should be prepared, each 40 cm high. At the ends of the boards intended for assembling the frame, a cut should be made at an angle of 45°.

Before proceeding with the assembly of the frame, the wooden elements should be treated with a special impregnation or antiseptic to stop the processes of decay and prevent rapid damage to the material, which can be caused by exposure to moisture. From the outside, the boards can be painted or varnished. For decorative purposes, patterns can be applied to the surface. After waiting for complete drying, you can start assembling the box. If the design of the beds provides for two levels, each of the tiers is fastened with bars.

Useful advice! To protect plantings from moles and rodents, it is recommended to nail a net at the bottom.

How to fill a do-it-yourself high bed of planks

Filling the high beds is carried out in the following order:

  • the drainage system is laid in the first layer; for its organization, tree bark is used, which must be crushed, fallen leaves, small twigs and wood shavings;
  • the second layer is formed from fertilizers, manure is well suited for organizing this layer, it is better if it is rotted;
  • as the third layer, a permeable material is used, it is performed by analogy with the first layer;
  • the basis for the fourth layer is organic matter, this layer can be supplemented with mineral fertilizer for complex purposes;
  • fertile land is laid in the fifth layer, the composition of the soil depends on the plants that will be grown in the garden, the minimum thickness of the fertile layer is 10 cm.

After the bed is filled, it should be watered abundantly and let it brew for 2-3 days so that all layers can settle. It is not recommended to immediately start sowing or planting seedlings. It is better to withstand the bed for some more time so that it has time to warm up well. To do this, cover the structure with black material. Polyethylene will do.

Useful advice! If the construction of beds is carried out at the end of summer or autumn, the structure must be left covered until spring.

Making vertical beds with your own hands: photo and technology

Vertically arranged beds are used for growing spices and berries. The advantages of such structures are associated with a decorative appearance, saving space and protecting the crop from birds and various pests.

The construction of vertical beds will be an excellent solution for planting crops that require a lot of space on the site. These designs are ideal for growing herbs, strawberries, flowers, strawberries. Moreover, the owners of summer cottages can not only build their own, but also buy ready-made vertical beds in one of the specialized stores.

Why is it profitable to create or buy a vertical bed for strawberries

There are many design options for vertical beds, but their main advantage lies in their compact size. Moreover, this advantage of products will be beneficial not only to owners of small summer cottages, but also to people who want to grow herbs or berries on their balcony. A light bed made from plastic bottles is best suited for these purposes.

A high garden is convenient to dig, weed, fertilize and harvest from it

Vertically installed beds do not require complex maintenance. Plantings are at a sufficient height so that weeding or harvesting can be carried out in convenient conditions. This does not require you to bend low and endure back pain. At the same time, plants and their roots are raised high above the ground, where rodents and small pests cannot reach. Pyramid or cylindrical beds prevent birds from landing comfortably to eat the berries.

Prices for finished structures:

product name price, rub.
Bed of agrotextile 150
Plastic mesh bed 490
Pipe with holes 1500
Pipe with holes 3200
vertical ladder 4700

Making a pyramid-bed for strawberries with your own hands: dimensions and technology

To work, you will need the following tools and materials:

  • jigsaw or hacksaw;
  • edged board size 40 × 5 × 20 cm (11 pcs.);

  • screwdriver and a set of screws;
  • pencil and tape measure;
  • seedlings and soil.

To create the base, 4 support boards are used. For their manufacture, you can cut a board 2 m long. It is recommended to make cuts at an acute angle, so that later it would be convenient to connect the pieces.

Useful advice! To increase the rigidity of the structure in the central part of the pyramidal beds, an additional pillar should be placed, which acts as a support.

After that, a pair of boards 2 m long, having an angular cut along the edges, is laid on a horizontal plane and connected to each other. A rail is mounted at the base to organize the future beds and is fixed on both sides. The dimensions of this element are 5x40x5 cm. The resulting side of the pyramid should be installed vertically and the second and third sides should be fixed on it. They are made in a similar way.

When the frame part of the pyramid is ready, using a tape measure, the length of the rails intended for the manufacture of beds is measured. They should be placed in increments of 25-30 cm. To fix the rails, you will need to cut the ends at an angle of 30 ° so that the shelf is raised. At the end of the assembly, the structure is filled with soil, which should be compacted. Products can be successfully used for growing vegetables and herbs.

Technology for the manufacture of vertical beds for strawberries from plastic pipes

This design option is great not only for growing strawberries, but also for greens.

List of required tools and materials:

  • plastic pipes of the required length with a large diameter;
  • steel cable (can be replaced with thick fishing line);
  • construction knife for cutting pipes.

The large diameter of the pipes is necessary so that the pipe cut in half can accommodate the amount of soil needed to grow plants. The incision of the product is carried out along. To fix the beds in a vertical position, holes should be made on both sides of each of the halves. A steel cable or a thick fishing line is passed through them. The halves are placed one above the other according to the principle of a ladder. The number of such halves-levels can be unlimited.

Note! Since the structure, while suspended, can sway, it is recommended to install the bed in places protected from the wind.

Do-it-yourself construction of vertical beds from a building grid

Small gardens created on the basis of a construction grid are suitable for growing strawberries, flowers, herbs or potatoes. For work you will need:

  • construction metal mesh;
  • the soil;
  • straw;
  • tool for cutting metal wire.

To create a bed, you will need to bend a rectangular piece of mesh in the shape of a pipe, the diameter of which is 0.9 m. Using wire or other devices, the edges of the segment must be fastened in this position. Straw is laid on the sides inside the structure. Thanks to this, the soil will not spill out. Free space is filled with compost.

If potatoes are to be grown, the first level of plants should be at a height of 50 cm from the ground. About 10 cm should be left between crops. After that, the first layer is shed, 50 cm of earth is laid again and plants are planted. A bed in the form of a tower can be of any height. To give the vertical bed a more attractive appearance, you can use black film instead of straw.

Technologies for making vertical beds for strawberries with your own hands from pots

Flower pots can be successfully used to grow strawberries. Such designs have a decorative appearance. Clay or plastic products are suitable for work. As a result, the design is multi-level. The number of such levels is limited only by personal wishes. Pots are selected so that each subsequent one has a smaller diameter than the previous one. It is desirable that the difference in size between each pair of pots be approximately the same.

The largest pot is set in the selected location and filled with soil. After that, a smaller pot is placed in it, etc. When the structure is ready, plants are planted in the soil and watered.

The next option is based on pots of the same diameter. Only one of them should be big. It will be installed at the very base of the structure. A metal rod or wooden stick should be placed inside a large pot.

Note! The size of the rod must be chosen so that its diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole located at the base of the pot.

The pot is filled with soil. The remaining products are alternately strung on a rod through a hole in the bottom. The result is a multi-tiered structure with pots that seem to balance each other. They are filled with soil, where plants are then planted.

If the site has a high stump or pole, the pots can be fixed on it. In no case should you do this on a living tree. Products are fixed around the circumference in any order. The spiral looks beautiful from the side. You can also use the technique of placing pots in a checkerboard pattern. The only negative of this bed is an inconvenient irrigation system.

Manufacturing technology and photo of do-it-yourself vertical beds for strawberries from tires

A tire tower is made in the same way as a flower pot structure. Tires of different diameters are selected for construction. This material has a significant drawback. Old car tires are not environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is recommended to create such beds for one-time use, and in a year to build new ones from other tires.

Before starting work, car tires need to be prepared:

  • thoroughly clean them from dirt and stones;
  • dry;
  • paint if necessary.

After that, the largest tire should be laid on one side. On the other hand, the side part with a hole for the disk is cut off. The finished element is filled with soil and planted with plants. Similarly, you should do with other tires and install them one on top of the other so that the size of each next one is smaller than the size of the previous one.

Useful advice! Car tires can be beautifully decorated, as is usually done with flower beds made from this material. For these purposes, you can use bright colors, patterns, or make decorative cuts.

Making high beds for strawberries with your own hands from improvised materials

On a bed made from a bag, the plants will look great. This design can be conveniently placed on the fence, the wall of the gazebo, house, barn or any other stationary building. To work, you need a bag made of plastic or natural fabric. Burlap in the operational sense is much better. It is environmentally friendly and, unlike plastic, is reusable. The fact is that artificial materials are subject to rapid destruction under the influence of the sun.

On the other hand, the burlap has a good capacity, providing air access to the plants. So that the bottom and sides of the bag do not break through over time under the influence of gravity, it is recommended to stitch them several times. At the top of the product is a loop for hanging. On one side of the bag, holes are made for planting plants. After that, the bed can be filled with earth and planted.

Tiered structures can be made from wooden or plastic boxes of different sizes. They are stacked one on top of the other with a gradual decrease in dimensional parameters. Such a ladder of boxes can be painted in a bright color and laid around a tree or pole.

Useful advice! To create a bed, you can use an old chest of drawers by pushing its drawers forward and filling them with earth. For these purposes, other unnecessary furniture is also suitable.

Recommendations for creating vertical beds for strawberries

Before proceeding with the manufacture of the garden, it would be useful to take into account some tips for the optimal construction of structures:

  • if the bed is large, the assembly must be carried out right at the place of its installation, otherwise there may be problems with transportation, during which the product can be damaged;

  • a decorative garden with berries should be placed strictly in the sun. If the vertical bed will be used for growing greens, then its design can be located near the kitchen;
  • the soil for filling the beds should be prepared in advance. For berries, sandy loamy soil is suitable, mixed with peat, fertilizer and hydrogel. Quail compost is optimal as a feed;
  • you need to think in advance of a system that will protect the beds from frost in the winter. Will the structure be covered or brought into the room;
  • the garden is recommended to be located closer to the source of water, so that it is more convenient to carry out regular watering of plants.

Note! The construction of vertical beds for cucumbers is also welcomed by many gardeners. Most of the designs are made by analogy with products for strawberries. Since cucumbers belong to the category of climbing crops, the bed should be supplemented with supports for which the plants will cling.

Making vertical beds for cucumbers with your own hands: photos of interesting designs

Vertical garden for cucumbers can be represented by various design options. Most often, bags or products made of plastic are used to grow these crops. The walls of buildings, nets or shields, as well as all kinds of partitions can serve as a surface for fixing the beds. Do-it-yourself vertical garden for cucumbers can be arranged inside a plastic pipe. Such a product closes on one side and is hung vertically on the crossbars.

A mesh made of plastic is considered the simplest option for organizing an ornamental garden for cucumbers. The product is positioned vertically and as the plants grow, they rise along the grid. A similar version of the beds can be bought ready-made or made by yourself. This will require a thick fishing line and straight tree branches that will serve as supports. They are arranged around the circumference with an equal step and at the top are connected at one point so that a kind of hut is obtained.

With the help of a thick fishing line, you need to walk around the circle, forming a vertical base to secure the plants as they grow. If it is planned to build a bed in the form of a grid for cucumbers, it is strictly forbidden to use metal products for these purposes. Such structures will overheat on hot summer days, and injure plants, leaving burns on them. Bags or canvas bags are a safe option for growing cucumbers.

For the construction of vertical structures, it is allowed to use unusual materials, for example, pallets, old furniture, empty stumps, etc. An unusual approach to decor will make it possible to create a garden on the territory, but a beautiful decorative composition that fits optimally into the space of a summer cottage.


To get a quality crop, it is necessary to make a lot of efforts to equip the site, grow various crops. High beds are considered an alternative to painstaking garden care - not very large elevations intended for the cultivation of vegetables and herbs.

To build high beds with your own hands, do not need specific equipment and any special skills. The structures along the entire perimeter are fenced with hand-made walls, because of this, the general level of the soil becomes higher than in an ordinary garden plot. Such a device has its own characteristics, namely: the hill is made in several layers, which contributes to high-quality soil fertilization, protection of the root system, and good growth of cultivated crops.

The entire construction of the high bed consists of 6 layers:

  1. Bottom protective layer made of metal mesh.
  2. Wood chocks.
  3. Mound of branches and bark.
  4. Part of the active layer from paper scraps.
  5. Nutrient layer of fallen leaves and grass mowing.
  6. Directly fertile part of the soil.

With metal mesh protect the root system, thereby preventing the penetration of pests. The upper part of the structure is filled with fertile soil, where various crops are planted, which later take root in another layer of foliage with grass, where vegetables and greens are fed. Bark, chocks, paper scraps are used as semi-protective components necessary for moisture filtration and metabolism.

All of the above layers of high beds are protected by a special frame made of brick, wood or plastic.

Gallery: high beds (25 photos)























Advantages and disadvantages

When compared with ordinary garden structures intended for growing vegetables and herbs, bulk beds have a number of significant advantages:

Spring for all summer residents and gardeners begins the same way: dig up all the land, divide it into beds, make a neat earthen roller for each. Then wait until the soil warms up, plant the plants and start fighting weeds that occupy the entire territory, including paths. But you can make improvements that will help you get more yield at less cost (labor, first of all).

Advantages and disadvantages of a high bed

Usually, having heard about the many advantages of such structures, people begin to wonder how to do it. How does it differ from ordinary landings at ground level? We list only the main advantages:

  • The soil on your site can be absolutely any, this will no longer affect the crop. The tall structure can be filled with a general soil mix or suitable for a particular crop. If your dacha is located in a damp lowland, then drainage can be laid as the first layer: broken brick, then lay eggshells, branches and grass left after the autumn cleaning of the site, leaves and earth in layers.
  • After many years of operation, the soil in the garden becomes less fertile, accumulates various pathogens. Having learned how to make a high bed, and installing it on your site, you can bring in fresh purchased soil and protect plants from rotting and fungi.
  • In spring, such structures warm up faster, which makes it possible to plant plants earlier. This gives a chance to get two harvests instead of one.
  • The yield is 2 times higher than when using flat beds.
  • Convenience of care of a bed, and also collecting fruits of low-growing plants.
  • Space saving and aesthetic appearance.

Everything has its downside. The disadvantage of high beds can be called the need for material investments and labor in their creation. They dry out fairly quickly and require frequent watering. it won't fit. The limited space of the bed requires regular fertilization, as the soil is depleted.

What materials may be required to create a high bed

If you have only used flat beds so far, be sure to experiment with one progressive design. If we talk about how to make a high bed, the first question arises about the necessary material. The scope for creativity here is great, it all depends on the level of your skill and the amount you are willing to spend.

  • Raised brick beds. If you do not have bricklaying experience, then the design may not come out too aesthetically pleasing. The advantages of this are long-term and safe use.
  • High beds from boards. They are the easiest to make. You need to have at hand a sufficient number of long boards, corners, transverse ceilings. As an option, you can use slats that are sheathed with wood or the minus is obvious - the tree rots.
  • Usually, an old slate is taken, which is removed from the roof during repairs. It is believed that this is a harmful material, but the only damage to health can be caused by the dust generated during its cutting. Minus - fragility and the ability to break the structure during garden work.
  • Rocks and grout is a very creative approach to gardening. You can create designs for centuries, beautiful, durable, of arbitrary shape and size.
  • Plastic bottles filled with colorful sand. Get the original beds with low sides.

Optimum bed height

Depends on the characteristics of the garden plot and planted crops. If there is good soil in the garden, you can make bumpers about 15 cm high. This will make it possible to solve the problem of weeds and soil diseases, make it easier to care for the bed and improve its appearance.

If the soil is poor and a high bed is created as a separately functioning structure, then it must be made higher, 30-90 cm. Sometimes a height is laid at the level of the belt, but then it should not be made wide.

Mounting

The arrangement of high beds is a creative process. Each gardener will get a completely unique work, but the main thing is that the goals are achieved, garden crops grow well and bear fruit, and the garden itself is convenient to maintain.

Choose a location. It may be the most trampled down and unsuitable for planting. Draw the size of the future design. The length can be any, and it is better not to make the width more than 110 cm. Drive in pegs around the perimeter, so you indicate the size of the beds.

Now decide on the material. If this is a tree, then it should be protected from dampness, varnished or varnished, and then assembled in the form of a box using corners and nails. Raised slate beds are even easier to create. Using a grinder, you need to cut the sheets into strips of the required width (70-80 cm), and then, having dug a narrow groove along the perimeter, deepen them one at a time and trample them tightly. You can give strength to the structure using the same corners, in addition, you need to tighten it around the perimeter with steel wire.

Filling the beds

We proceed from the fact that the height of your bed is 80-90 cm. Put a wire mesh at the very bottom so that your vegetables do not fall prey to moles or shrews. Then about 25 cm can be occupied by all the waste of your personal plot: uprooted stumps, large branches. For better drainage, large pieces of brick can be added here.

The next layer is 40-50 cm. This is a source of minerals and fertilizers. It can be small chips, grass, wood ash, lime, food waste (vegetable peelings, etc.). It is also worth adding rotted manure and compost, bird droppings with straw.

On top of a layer of 10-20 cm, you need to lay high-quality garden soil. It is not necessary to mix the layers, it is enough to pour them abundantly and give time for shrinkage. The device of high beds is not as difficult as it might seem from the outside, but absolutely amazing results are achieved.

Irrigation Features

The design features are such that it absorbs more heat, and therefore consumes a lot of moisture. High is well suited. Since the soil temperature here is almost 10 degrees higher, this stimulates the growth and development of the root system. In addition, this culture loves light and fresh soil and does not tolerate wetlands. But don't let the soil dry out. If it is not possible to install, water several times a day, especially in hot weather.

The effectiveness of these structures is so high that, having put one as an experiment, you will soon decide: we are making high beds throughout the site.

Raised bed in spring and autumn

In the autumn, after harvesting, you may notice that the level of the earth has dipped a lot. Collect a new layer of organic matter (plants, branches, grass, fertilizers), lay it on the garden bed and cover it well with high-quality garden soil. If you still have not seen high beds live, the photo will help to present all the details. You don’t need to dig, you just need to water and cover with a film until the new year. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, your garden bed will be ready for planting the first plants. It can be greens and radishes, which will later be replaced by cucumbers, tomatoes or cabbage. A high location will save the plants from quite strong spring frosts, and the good heat transfer of the beds stimulates rapid growth and abundant fruiting.

What is best to plant

The temperature of the soil of a high bed is always higher than the surrounding land. This is facilitated by the limited space, and the elevated location, and the decomposition of organic matter, which is crammed with the structure. In the first year of use, it is better to plant "gluttonous" plants that like an excess of nutrients. These are tomatoes, pumpkin, cucumbers, cabbage. Only in the second year, you can grow root vegetables, herbs and leafy vegetables. But even now the soil temperature will be much higher, which will allow harvesting sooner.

Summing up

Now you know how to make a high bed, and you can put it into practice on your site. A minimum of hassle, affordable materials, and the result is a neat garden without weeds and excellent vegetables that have ripened at least a month earlier. That's a strong enough motivation to try.

Borders for beds are a practical and necessary fencing around them. The main purpose of artificial walls around the beds is to increase the height of the fertile layer, which can be easily created by frequent mulching with compost soil after watering. Over time, the fence for the vegetable growing area has become an element of landscape design. In an ornamental garden, borders play the role of separators and borders of territories on which cultivated plants grow.

The fence for beds will demonstrate practical benefits already in the first season.

From an aesthetic point of view, the places for planting seeds and seedlings of vegetable crops will look more well-groomed, noticeable, and expressive. They do not need to be periodically put in order, to deal with water leaks during irrigation, to maintain a horizontal plane on the slopes.

From a practical point of view, there are also many benefits:

  • fenced areas for vegetables will have significantly fewer weeds than uncultivated areas;
  • less physical effort will be required for manual weeding, digging, mulching, top dressing and other work;
  • it is more convenient to cover such structures with a film; on high fences it is easier to fix arcs for a greenhouse in order to plant seedlings of vegetables and flowers in it;
  • it is easier to make natural heating, by creating a layered bed with biofuel, for growing cucumbers, peppers and other warm-loving vegetable plants.

Fenced areas for vegetables will have significantly fewer weeds than uncultivated areas

How to make a garden fence with your own hands

There are certain requirements for the walls:

  • they should be low (height 10-30 cm) so as not to obscure vegetable plants at the beginning of growth;
  • neat - emphasizing the straightness or irregular, but attractive shape of the beds;
  • dense - not allowing the fertile layer to spill out onto the path or spread water outside the border of the zone for growing plants during irrigation;
  • beautiful to fit into the overall structure of the improvement of the suburban area.

Fencing places for growing vegetables can make the garden not only cozy, comfortable, well-groomed, but also original, maybe even unique.

Boxes from them with a thick fertile layer do not need to be dug up, so soil care in them is the easiest - loosening with a hoe before planting seeds or seedlings.

On flower beds and flower beds, borders made of living plants of the same species (rosemary, calendula, boxwood, hyssop and other undersized perennial flowers planted tightly in 2-3 rows) look spectacular, pretty, stylish. Fences for territories with vegetables are also built from artificial and improvised materials - bricks, boards or wooden beams, stones, sheet metal, plastic, sawn slate and other construction waste. They can always be collected in the right amount in the nearby ownerless territories or bought cheaply in stores. Many summer residents, when asked how to protect the beds in the country inexpensively, unequivocally answer - with material from construction waste, cobblestones, a low picket fence and other items that can be found in construction dumps, on river banks and in other places.

Borders for beds made of wood - it's simple, familiar, natural. Simply - because any . They are easily fastened with nails, screws, glue. The pieces of wood are easy to assemble and also easy to disassemble for transfer to a new place.

Habitual - because there are a lot of wooden buildings around us.


Borders for beds made of wood - it's simple, familiar, natural.

Naturally - because trees grow everywhere.

The fence looks original for beds made of stumps, the same thickness of low logs or low wattle. Most often, wooden border material for beds is a cut and unedged board, which forms a capacious box without a bottom, where all the necessary raw materials are poured.

You can make a box from separate shields, which are knocked down from a slab, a picket fence, an old floor rail, lining, and other types of lumber.

Shields are attached to each other and fixed with stakes hammered from the outside. This design is easy to disassemble and assemble in a new place.
Wooden objects can be treated with protective impregnations from decay and insects, which will increase its service life at times.

Until recently, it was believed that wood is short-lived, and therefore impractical. But now wooden objects can be treated with protective impregnations from decay and insects, which will increase its service life at times.

A good option is considered to be metal walls for boxes from worn-out sieves of a sieve box of combine harvesters. Lightweight, strong, durable with many small holes for ventilation, they are easily cut with metal scissors to the desired size. Craftsmen who have a welding machine can easily weld a metal frame from scrap metal for a plant growing zone from pieces of sheet iron of the required thickness.

Now in construction stores they sell a special multi-layer galvanized steel profiled sheet, with a polymer coating. Its height is 17 centimeters, and the length is different. It is convenient to make roomy boxes from it. Although its price is not cheap, but given the durability, it is worth buying. From it, walls for territories with vegetables will last a long time.


Metal fencing is easy to install.

Metal fencing is easy to install. Places for planting seeds and seedlings of vegetable plants, framed by them, look neat, beautiful (you can choose a profiled sheet of different colors), practical. But iron has a serious drawback - it is a good thermal conductivity. The soil near the iron railings can reach a critical temperature that will inhibit crop plants and dry out the soil. This disadvantage is easy to deal with using any improvised means that have low thermal conductivity. It is possible to overlay metal fences from the inside with cardboard, pieces of slate, stones.

A plastic fence for planting seeds and seedlings of vegetable crops has a number of advantages. It will be light, durable, frost-resistant, not afraid of sunlight, shock loads. You can buy curb tape in the store, which has the optimal balance of rigidity, flexibility, high plasticity, due to which it can be bent at any angle. It is simply installed with your own hands, well supports the geometry of beds, flower beds, lawns. For stability, it is fixed with pegs driven in from both sides.


A plastic fence for planting seeds and seedlings of vegetable crops has a number of advantages.

DIY plastic bottle beds

Plastic bottles are a widely used material at hand. If desired, they can easily be dialed in sufficient quantities. The bottles are filled with any bulk material: earth, sand, small gravel, and then they are simply placed close in one or several rows, into a trench dug around the perimeter of the bed, with the neck down. From plastic bottles, you can make a major fence for a place with cultivated plants, if they are laid horizontally on a cement mortar. If you put plastic bottles on the beds with their bottoms out, then the border will have an original multi-colored look. With the help of a rich imagination, you can realize more

Owners who have just completed the construction of a brick house will be able to make stationary fences for vegetable planting sites with their own hands from the remains of a brick. The beds and flower beds framed by this building material will look like a single ensemble with a residential building. The brick can be dug in in different ways: on the edge at an angle; on edge in a row; the first row is flat, and on top of the solution a row on the edge. A decorative brick border largely depends on the imagination of the owners of the summer cottage.


A decorative brick border largely depends on the imagination of the owners of the summer cottage.

Stones in abundance can be collected anywhere: on the river, on the slopes of hills, in gravel pits. There are many options for making permanent stone curbstones. The easiest and most affordable way is to fill up the space between two mesh metal gratings dug in along the perimeter of the box. Such a fence is called a pergon. In such a stone “bag”, zucchini and tomatoes, cucumbers and beets will feel comfortable. Yes, and other vegetable crops that are grown in the beds will be comfortable inside a natural, environmentally friendly fence.


There are many options for making permanent stone curbstones.

Fences of beds from wave slate

Wave slate, like roofing for roofs, has already gone out of fashion. It is everywhere replaced with a professional sheet, different types of tiles, soft roofing. But sheets of wave slate have become very popular with summer residents, who build durable, convenient, almost free fences and fences for growing vegetable plants from pieces. And if you decide: how to fence the beds in the country house cheaply, then, perhaps, the material cannot be found cheaper than the old wave slate. But first, the slate needs to be prepared for installation as a fence. Each sheet is marked into pieces of the desired size and sawn with a grinder. This work will not take long. The process of fencing beds consists of the following steps:

  1. Marking the boundaries of future beds with strong twine and stakes that are driven into the corners. A trench 20-25 cm deep is made along the stretched cord (on the bayonet of a shovel).
  2. Pieces of sawn slate of the same width are installed in the trench, leveled and slightly buried in the bottom of the trench with a light tap of a hammer.
  3. For the stability of the slate fence, stakes 0.5 m long are driven in from the outside, to a depth of 30 cm. A capacious box is obtained.
  4. For disinfection, the inside of the box is treated with slaked lime.
  5. The bottom of the box is lined with sawdust, dry grass and leaves. Then it is abundantly watered with water and fertile soil is poured on top.
  6. Next, you need to think about protecting the slate from direct sunlight, as it gets very hot in the sun and contributes to the accelerated evaporation of moisture. If possible, slate walls should be watered more often. The buried part of the slate will become an insurmountable barrier against the attack of the bear.

It is not difficult to build multi-tiered flower beds and beds from wave slate, on the tiers of which you can grow flowers, strawberries and other plants. And you can fence off a small plot of the garden, where you can prepare compost from weeds and tops from vegetable crops.

The general procedure for constructing a border for beds from any material

The height of the fence depends on the purpose of the beds, as well as on the convenience of caring for plants:

  • for fertile garden land - 15 cm;
  • for infertile soil - up to 30 cm;
  • for potatoes and other solanaceous - up to 40 cm;
  • for bioheated compost - up to 50 cm.

The sequence of actions in the manufacture of a border from improvised means;

  1. We clear a place for a zone for growing vegetables. We mark its borders with the help of a cord and pegs, focusing on even sides and right angles.
  2. We build a strong, rigid box from boards or other material. To fasten them together, we use self-tapping screws and a screwdriver, welding or a trowel.
  3. We line the bottom of the fenced area with rubble, gravel, pieces of dishes, stones, bricks for drainage. Then lay out an even layer of leaves, hay, fresh grass.
  4. We fill the prepared fertile soil into the box, level it. It should not contain weeds. From the top edge of the curb to the leveled layer of the earth should be 3-5 cm.
  5. We plant seeds or seedlings of vegetable plants. Mulch with crushed bark of deciduous trees. The goal is to create an optimal microclimate and retain moisture.
  6. If the box surrounds the lawn, then it is advisable to strengthen its bottom with a liquid blind area of ​​​​water, cement and sand. The layer is small - up to 3 cm. For strength and beauty, bricks can be laid on the hardened blind area with a gap of 1-2 cm. Pour a dry sand-cement mixture into the gaps between the bricks.

Many summer residents are categorically against the use of those materials for the fence of beds, which are many in cities and towns: metal, concrete, brick. It is necessary to make borders from natural flowers, grass, stones and wood. It’s hard to disagree with this, but you shouldn’t forget about practicality either. The main thing is to be useful, not harmful, contribute to high yields and please the eye! Let's also not forget about the durability of the borders and the convenience of caring for plants.

The yield of plants depends not only on the time of planting seeds, their germination, but also on the place of planting and the height of the embankment. We hope that our tips on building beds in the country with your own hands will be useful not only for beginner gardeners.

Location selection

Some vegetable crops, for example, peas, dill, sorrel, lettuce, can grow in partial shade. But most plant species are not able to fully mature with a lack of light.

Therefore, when placing beds on a garden plot, they are primarily guided by their illumination - it is desirable that they be warmed up by the sun from the very early morning until 6-7 pm.

Decorative garden plantings

When choosing a landing site, the following requirements must be taken into account:

1 Do not plant plants in lowlands or on northern slopes, where the soil freezes deeper than on flat areas; productivity in these places will be low; plus the water in this place will constantly stagnate, which can lead to root rot

2 The site should not have a strong slope, otherwise the water will simply drain from it during irrigation, and the plants will not receive moisture.

3 There should not be large trees, buildings and fences near plantings that can shade plants

4 It is desirable to arrange them north to south, so that during the day they are evenly illuminated by the sun

5 For growing vegetables for a family of 3-4 people, about 1 acre is enough; the rest of the territory can be planted with potatoes, berries and flowers

6 To make the plot look neat, try to make “correct” beds of the same width and length; standard dimensions - 3.5x0.8 m

7 Do not forget about the compatibility of plants: some of them do not get along well with each other

Dimensions

In principle, you can make a bed of any length - up to 10 m. Agree, such beds look original. But constantly bypassing them when watering is very inconvenient. It is better to prepare an embankment 3.5-4 m long. This size is considered optimal. Or break a long bed into two with a small path. This will greatly facilitate your movement around the site.

Standard width 0.8 m. Do not save space (!) and in no case make it wider. You may be able to reach the center of the bed when planting and scatter the seeds, but weeding will turn into a real torment. Don't believe? Experiment and prepare a small but wide mound. Believe me, next year you will lose the desire to make beds of this size.

A more compact version, only 0.45 m wide, is made for carrots. This culture does not like dense plantings - the sprouts should be well blown. For the same reason, try not to place tall plants next to carrots. Otherwise, you will significantly reduce its yield. On thickened plantings, it will grow small.

Shape and height

When decorating the site, we can decorate it with beds of various shapes, from standard rectangular to triangular, trapezoidal or oval. There are plenty of ideas for unusual beds on the net. The main thing is that it is convenient to approach them from either side for watering and weeding.

The height of the embankment depends on many factors, including the type of site. In most cases, it is enough to raise them to a height of up to 35-50 cm. This will be enough so that the roots of the plants do not rot. Too high beds - up to 0.8 m - are usually made in heavily swampy areas.

But such structures are very labor intensive. Plus, they will need to bring at least a couple of KAMAZ trucks of fertile soil to the site. For one small bed it will need at least half a ton.

Raising beds is often also required for growing heat-loving crops, for example, cucumbers. Indeed, in high beds, the earth warms up much faster. It is often impossible to get an early harvest without it.

Raise the beds sometimes and just for their own convenience

Caring for plants in this case is much easier. Just keep in mind that in beds of great height, the earth dries out much faster, so you will have to water the plants more often. Experts also advise raising a landing site in areas located in the shade. The optimal height of the embankment in this case is 50 cm.

To prevent water from rolling onto the path when watering, the bed should be slightly concave inward.

Arrangement of a high bed

A box for it can be made from improvised means: boards, plastic, metal or stones:

1 It is better to put a metal mesh at the bottom - it will protect the plants from the ubiquitous rodents.

2 Crushed stone, expanded clay or broken bricks are used as drainage. The thickness of this layer is 10-15 cm.

3 It is better to treat the prepared soil in advance with agents from pathogenic microbes and pests. If you do not want to use chemistry, mix the earth with a small amount of wood ash - it will protect the plants from harmful bacteria.

4 It is not worth filling the bed with soil up to the very sides - it will constantly spill out onto the path. It is necessary to leave about 5 cm.

Drainage

When a site is located in a lowland or swampy area, growing many types of crops on it becomes a problem. Vegetables and berries on it, if they ripen, then due to excess moisture, they quickly deteriorate during storage.

Their taste also changes - much less sugar accumulates in them. To prevent this from happening, take care of the drainage of the wetland.

Most gardeners know that cabbage, melons, zucchini and cucumbers require more moisture to grow than other crops. But it turns out that massive heads of garlic can also be grown only in areas rich in moisture. On dry land, even with abundant watering, it is rarely large.

For the above types of plants, drainage is not required (unless, of course, stagnant water in the beds is insignificant). The area for growing other crops is better to drain.

For the construction of multi-tiered beds, special boxes can be knocked out of wood. It is highly undesirable to use metal - it quickly heats up in the sun, and the earth in them will dry out even faster. If necessary, paint metal containers with light paint - light surfaces heat up less.

Often used for such structures and ready-made boxes, racks or containers of a suitable size. You can also place large containers filled with earth on the shelves.

lazy beds

Such embankments are used when planting a large number of plants. They have a small height and outwardly look like bulk trapezoids without the use of a box. True, such embankments will have to be made every season - they settle over the winter.

Make a shallow ditch in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe path, throwing the earth onto the ridge. Level the soil with a rake. The bed is ready.

We repeat - the drier the land on the site, the lower the height of the embankment should be. In marshy areas, dig paths as deep as possible and make the bed higher. On sandy soil, you don’t even need to do this - just tread the paths well on the dug-up ground with your feet, thus marking the location of the paths.

Boxes for beds

Decorative option, limited by a box - a favorite technique of many gardeners. After all, caring for them (watering and weeding) is greatly simplified. The use of boxes is a good way to protect against soil erosion. In addition, the paths between them will always be clean, without streaks and puddles.

As a rule, the paths are covered with wood, tiles or concrete so that the grass cannot break through the ground.

Before proceeding with the installation of the box, the place for the beds must be prepared - dig up the ground, carefully removing all weeds. Carefully level it with a rake so that water during irrigation or rain can be evenly distributed over the entire surface.

When digging, it is necessary to capture the area a little more. Otherwise, the roots of perennial plants will again make their way out of the ground. Pulling them out from under the box will be problematic. It is better to pre-dig the neglected area twice in spring and autumn.

Getting rid of the roots of perennial plants at once is simply unrealistic. To make the job easier, simply turn the sod over with a shovel so that the roots of the plants are above the ground. Gradually, they themselves will dry out under the rays of the sun and die.

Wooden box

Wooden box

The simplest wooden box is assembled from 4 long and 8 short boards of a suitable size. They are connected in pairs with the help of bars. Nails, screws and metal corners are used as fasteners.

You will also need 4 pegs or trimming reinforcement 0.6 m long - they are driven into the ground from the outside to enhance the strength of the structure. To make the bed perfectly even, its walls are aligned with the building level horizontally and vertically.

Stone or concrete box

Stone or concrete box

Such structures are characterized by high strength and long service life. However, they will cost a lot.

Plus, the process of building them takes a lot of time. Yes, and moving the garden bed will be a serious problem - the structure will have to be broken.

metal boxes

metal boxes

If you have waste metal at hand, you can make beds out of it. Such structures are lightweight and, if desired, they can be easily moved to another place. They are easily painted in any color, so they look quite decorative.

However, the creation of such products requires the ability to work with a welding machine. You can cut the metal at the nearest scrap metal collection point.

Slate fence

Slate fence

It is quite resistant to decay, even when buried in the ground and is able to last a long time.

The disadvantages of slate structures include increased fragility - when assembling and cutting them, high accuracy and accuracy are required.

Plastic structures

Plastic structures

If you have a few plastic panels left after repair, you can make a fence out of it. Bright, they favorably stand out against the background of plants.

Moreover, plastic is able to lie in the ground for an infinitely long time - it is not afraid of moisture. However, under the bright rays of the sun, this material quickly fades and loses color.

Mulching

Weeding often takes a lot of time from summer residents. If the site is large, this becomes a serious problem. You just have to spend the day and night in the garden.

To reduce the time spent on endless weeding, prepare the so-called smart beds. The principle of their manufacture is simple. To protect plants from weeds after planting, cover the gaps between the sprouts with sawdust, needles, straw, or dried last year's foliage of trees.

Mulch the soil and cover with a dark film. It is spread out before planting, making small holes for the plants. A transparent film is not suitable for these purposes - weeds will continue to develop with access to light.

It has been proven that mulching significantly (almost 30%) increases yields.

After all, the closure of the top layer of soil protects the fertile layer from weathering and rapid drying. Plus, under a layer of organic matter, beneficial microorganisms and earthworms multiply faster.

Using this method, even abandoned areas can be quickly put in order - it is enough to cover the land overgrown with weeds with mulch for a couple of years.

Unfortunately, in wetlands, mulching often leads to a sad result - covering the soil leads to stagnation of water in the beds, and as a result, rotting of plants. But in this case, mulching can come in handy.

The only difference is that you should not cover the ground for the winter and early spring. Wait until the earth dries well.

Mulch should not be used during rainy seasons. If the summer turned out to be hot, with the help of mulch you will get rid of not only weeding, but also frequent watering. The moisture underneath will evaporate much more slowly. In wet areas, be sure to prepare drainage around the perimeter of the beds to drain its excess.

Warm beds

It is not so easy to achieve an early harvest in our climate. At the first return frosts, tender sprouts planted in open ground will simply die. Surviving plants will be stunted and diseased. The ideal outlet for growing in this case are warm beds.

They can be used for many types of crops: the first greens and radishes, heat-loving cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, eggplants, tomatoes, etc.

Consider the basic rules for creating warm beds and how to grow each of the crops on them:

1 They can rise above the ground or, on the contrary, be built below ground level.

2 They go deep into the ground by no more than 0.5 m. This is quite enough to protect the sprouts from spring frosts. At a greater depth, the plants will be in the shade and will be pulled.

3 Raise them to a height of up to 0.5-1 m. In principle, they can be made even higher - caring for them will only be simplified.

4 First, a drainage layer of fine gravel and sand is laid. You can replace it with broken bricks, but learn that over time this material can decompose under the influence of moisture.

5 The next layer is vegetable waste. The heat released during their decay will serve as natural heating. It is better to prepare such a bed in the fall, during the harvest. As a "warm layer" you can use cut tops or any weed grass left after weeding. The most important thing is that she does not have time to form seeds.

6 For cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini, manure is more often used as a warm layer. When overheated, it heats up much more. For the same crops as tomatoes, manure, as well as pure humus, is contraindicated. Plants on it will only increase the green mass. You can simply not wait for a harvest on manure - the ovaries will immediately fall off. Therefore, to warm up the tomato, use ordinary vegetable waste.

7 The last layer is fertile land. It is poured with a thickness of at least 30 cm.

8 Novice gardeners sometimes complain that their neighbors have high yields on warm beds, but for some reason nothing grows in them. Indeed, if a layer of grass or manure is only a little “powdered” with earth, it will simply be impossible for the roots of the plant to gain a foothold in it. Yes, and nutrition for sprouts will obviously not be enough. Overripe plants serve only as a layer of insulation. Therefore, without a solid layer of earth, you will not achieve a harvest.

9 Next, arcs are placed above the bed, which are covered with a film. Covering material such as spunbond (agrofibre) should not be used for these purposes. It can be spread directly on the ground in case of returning frosts or used as additional shelter. Unlike polyethylene, agrofibre has many holes through which precious heat will freely escape.

The paths between the beds are a sore subject for many gardeners. Weeding the ground rammed by constant walking is problematic. But it’s enough to run a little - and the weed grass immediately crawls from it to the beds. Plus, in rainy weather, the paths become too slippery.

For the manufacture of tracks, you can use any environmentally friendly and sufficiently moisture resistant material:

  • paving slabs: its range is large enough, and you can easily choose the right color and shade
  • concrete: paths filled with cement-sand mortar can serve faithfully for up to 15-20 years; there are several disadvantages of such structures - low decorativeness and low resistance to moisture; plus, concrete surfaces under the influence of frost heaving often crack, and they have to be periodically added; Yes, and moving the track to another place will be problematic - for this, the concrete coating will have to be completely destroyed
  • small stones or rubble: so that they do not mix with fertile soil, for the manufacture of paths from them, it will be necessary to equip a fence made of metal, wood or plastic
  • wood: since this material is easily rotten, the paths from it are often raised above the ground with the help of bars; so that the tree does not bend when walking, it is necessary to choose boards of sufficient thickness; the optimal section of the bars is 500x100 mm; the reverse side of the tree is treated with mastic to protect against moisture
  • terrace (deck) board, of course, it costs a lot, but it looks very solid; and its service life even in conditions of high humidity and significant temperature changes is 20-30 years

Other materials can also be used for laying paths, for example, tree cuts or large stones. In this case, the space between them must be covered with sand or gravel and carefully compacted. Otherwise, weed grass will immediately appear on the path.

Make the central paths a little wider - from 60 cm, so that a wheelbarrow can freely drive along them. For the rest of the paths, a distance of 30 cm is left (that is, equal in length to the human foot). You should not make it smaller, otherwise, moving between too narrow paths when weeding or watering, you will constantly trample the planted plants.

Old linoleum can also be used to protect against weeds on the paths. But covering this slippery material with a decorative face up is not worth it. Flip it over and lay it upside down. It may not be very aesthetically pleasing, but it is absolutely safe.

Laying brick paths is not worth it: after a few years, under the influence of moisture, it will begin to collapse, gradually turning into small fragments. From under them, grass will immediately climb, which will be unrealistic to weed out.