How To Set Up a Garden Bed on Concrete

It’s possible to install a raised bed on poor or compacted soil, even on concrete. Actually, more and more people are choosing to build garden beds on concrete. You can grow plants on various inhospitable surfaces, including a crumbling concrete foundation, a poolside patio, or an underutilized asphalt driveway. So, if your yard has lots of concrete, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a garden. Make the most of the space you have available. Add raised garden beds to your hardscape.

First Things First – Let’s Discuss the Benefits of Raised Garden Beds

Source: marthastewart.com

Maybe you’re not sure it’s worth making the leap to your own raised garden. If you’ve never grown veggies, flowers, or herbs in raised beds before, it’s normal to be a sceptic. Raised beds are more fruitful as compared to the beds in the ground because the soil has a reduced rate of water infiltration and drainage, and it doesn’t take long to warm in the spring.

You get ample garden space at a reasonable price. It doesn’t matter if you purchase a kit or build your own garden bed. You’ll achieve so much for plant health, and soil health, not to mention your health. You can grow vegetables that have a higher nutrient value and are free of chemical residues. What is more, you’ll enjoy better mental health as a result of the interaction with nature.

Take A Moment to Think About Your Space

Source: thisoldhouse.com

It’s a bad idea to rush your gardening project. Before you get started, take as much time as necessary to evaluate the space. Give careful consideration to where you’re going to plant your garden. A garden bed requires access to sunlight. Select a location with abundant sunlight, good drainage, away from shrubs and trees.

Also, the garden bed should be close to an irrigation source. The bottom of the bed needs to rest on a flat surface. Excess moisture might accumulate on the hard surface. This is precisely why you should test the location you have in mind. Pour some water on the concrete and surface and see where it drains.

And Other Details

Equally important is to think about the size. Your garden bed should have between 3 and 4 feet. Popular materials for raised bed gardening are wood, plastic, aluminum, and galvanised metal. In case you didn’t know, wood frames are easy to build. It’s easy to customize whatever you want if you can do some basic math’s. Some of the strongest types of wood are cypress, cedar, white oak, and redwood.

Here’s a thought: Why don’t you use concrete blocks? According to the experts at TitanConcrete, they don’t deteriorate like wood or other materials. One of the great things about using interlocking concrete blocks is that you can cut the installation time in half. All you have to do is to place the blocks at carefully measured intervals to create a bed shape.

Decide What You Want to Plant in The Garden Bed

Source: bobvila.com

If you have six hours of full sunlight, you can grow just about anything in your garden bed. Spinach, lettuce plants, and mixed salad greens thrive in warm temperatures. Other delicious choices include:

  • Sweet and hot peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Carrots
  • Eggplants
  • Onions

The question now is: How many raised beds should you have? Well, if your time is limited, start out with just one. If you want to enjoy lots of fresh veggies and herbs, it’s recommended to have at least 3 or 4 beds. Most raised beds have 8 to 12 inches. You can opt for something taller. This way, you’ll have plenty of root space, so plants can fulfil their water and get the nutrients they need.

How To Build A Raised Garden Bed Using Concrete Blocks

1. Lay The Bricks Down and Obtain a Raised Garden Bed Frame

Source: diy.dunnlumber.com

Make the bed shape by laying the concrete blocks on the ground. Sweep and hose down the floor to make sure that it’s clean and debris-free. Your garden can be any shape you like, as long as it consists of right angles. Additionally, you can have raised garden beds of varying depths attached to one another. With basic DIY skills (and a few spare weekends) you’ll have your very own garden.

2. Line The Inside Bottom with Hardware Cloth

Line the bottom with hardware cloth so that the landscape fabric doesn’t rip under the weight of the soil. The higher the gauge of the hardwire cloth, the smaller the wire will be. Hardware cloth provides great protection and support for plants, erosion control, and compost containment. Opt for galvanized hardware cloth, as it won’t rust and is fairly strong and long-lasting. You can find hardware cloth at your local hardware store.

3. Add Durable Landscape Fabric

Source: homesthetics.net

Landscape fabric is manufactured as a solid sheet with perforated holes, which allows water to soak through. It’ll keep the soil inside your bed and allow for excellent drainage. Also, you can cut back on weeds. It’s essential to leave the fabric very loose to let it rest. Avid lining your raised garden bed with plastic because it prevents drainage. At any rate, attach the landscape fabric to the galvanized wire. It’ll end up looking like an above ground pool.

4. Fill Your Raised Garden Bed with Soil

Source: hgtv.com

Now, all you have to do is to fill the garden bed with soil. Building and working the soil requires a lot less effort if you use the right kind of soil from the very beginning. You should fill the frame with topsoil or a combination of topsoil and compost. Add seedlings or seeds within the bed in three rows of three. You can paint the concrete blocks if you want using exterior-grade masonry paint.

After having installed the raised garden bed, monitor the area for leakage; there should be little to no runoff coming from beneath. Maintenance is easy. A well-designed raised garden bed should last for years. You’ll be successful raising plants as long as drainage is right and you’re regularly wedding. If you think gardening is hard, you’ll be surprised to find out it isn’t. Get yourself a raised garden bed, and you’ll see.