Raised Beds

I’m essentially a lazy gardener and if there is a way to tend plants at a comfortable height, rather than at ground level, then I’m all for it. But this is just one of the advantages of raised-bed gardening. Raised beds give young plants a much- needed boost, soften the hard line of an adjoining wall, can double as occasional seats, become an integral part of steps or ramps or temporarily provide a children’s sand-pit. You can use them to contain a given area such as a patio or vegetable garden, and remember that the soil in a raised bed can be quite different from that in another part of the garden. This will allow you to grow plants that would not normally thrive in the immediate vicinity — for example ericaceous plants could be grown in an acidic bed in an otherwise chalky garden.

To exploit their full potential, you should consider the option of raised beds during the initial stages of creating your garden design. Where you decide to put them will of course have a bearing on the materials you use for their construction. A brick raised bed could echo brick paving, which in turn takes its cue from the house. Stone will combine well with stone, timber with timber and so on. But this is only a guide and these rules can be broken. Neatly laid railway sleepers look superb in a contemporary setting adjoining a house built from brick. Similarly, rendered concrete blocks with a neat precast slab coping would offer an immediate visual affinity with a stuccoed building.

If beds are built with solid brick or stone walls then drainage will be necessary to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged. You can leave a number of open vertical joints close to the ground to allow excess water to seep away. Alternatively, drainage pipes can be neatly incorporated at a similar level, but make sure that they finish flush with the face of the wall. As with any wall, suitable concrete foundations are essential. Most importantly, a raised bed should never be built directly on top of existing paving. Remember, too, that raised beds may cause damp problems if built against a house wall. Always leave a gap between a bed and an adjoining wall.

Timber is an excellent choice of material and very versatile. Beds can utilize logs set vertically into the ground or laid horizontally, nailed into supporting battens or posts set into the ground on the inside of the bed. Large timber plant boxes, constructed from boards and filled with lightweight compost, will be ideal for roof gardens, where weight considerations mean that heavier materials are not suitable.

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