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Raised flower beds - easy on eye and body
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| Easy to build: A raised flower bed built more than five years ago. They last, are pleasing to the eye, and easy to work in. (Thelma Grimes/photo.) |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
For those looking for an alternative to conventional gardening, raised flower beds may be the answer.
Angel De La Torre of Benson Lumber said raised flower beds are a great alternative for senior citizens who love gardening but have troubling getting down on the ground.
"A raised flower bed is easier to see, and they are definitely easier to tend to," De La Torre said. "They are more pleasing to the eye, and another great part is it's easier to control ants and bugs."
A raised flowerbed creates a barrier for more than just ants, as they also keep out snails and slugs, offer good drainage and prevent weed problems.
In the San Pedro Valley poor soil is not just a problem with settling buildings and construction, but also for the garden. A raised flower bed is good for those problems as well because new soil fills the beds, therefore helping the plants grow and thrive in a tough area.
With so many good reasons to build a raised flower bed, some question the cost and time. De La Torre said that's just another good thing, because they are fairly inexpensive, can be whatever height a gardener chooses and are not too time consuming.
"It's as simple as using some plywood and roof coating as a base," De La Torre said. "I recommend putting the roof coating on to make the flower bed last five, seven or eight years. To really elevate and make the flower bed look even better, an inexpensive way is through railroad ties. They go with almost any architectural building plans."
De La Torre said he has plenty of railroad ties available at his store on 5th Street, ranging from $3 to $10. He and his staff will also answer any questions on a flower bed project.
According to SafeGardening.com, the first thing to decide in constructing a raised flower bed is where in the garden it will go. You must choose a place where plants will benefit the most from sunlight.
Besides plywood and railroad ties, other suggested materials are rock, brick or concrete.
One thing to remember, however, is that all materials must be non-toxic.
The Safe Gardening Web site suggests that the gardener have a shape for the structure in mind, and then peg some stakes in the ground, which delineate the areas within the flower bed. Chalk or a garden hose can also be used to formulate the desired shape.
Once the shape is formed, it is suggested that a couple of inches of sand or gravel be put on the bottom of the interior with some rock or pebbles to help with drainage.
Once that is complete, construction can begin with building the sides of the flowerbed.
Safe Gardening recommends the height of the flowerbed be a foot or two off the ground, unless you suffer from back problems, then make the height closer to the waist.
It is also recommended not to make the new structure so wide that you have to stretch across the flowerbed. Three to four feet wide is suggested.
Once the desired height and width are reached, fill the interior with topsoil. Eight inches of soil is recommended.
Rake the soil to even it, and begin planting.
For those looking for an alternative to conventional gardening, raised flower beds may be the answer.
Angel De La Torre of Benson Lumber said raised flower beds are a great alternative for senior citizens who love gardening but have troubling getting down on the ground.
"A raised flower bed is easier to see, and they are definitely easier to tend to," De La Torre said. "They are more pleasing to the eye, and another great part is it's easier to control ants and bugs."
A raised flowerbed creates a barrier for more than just ants, as they also keep out snails and slugs, offer good drainage and prevent weed problems.
In the San Pedro Valley poor soil is not just a problem with settling buildings and construction, but also for the garden. A raised flower bed is good for those problems as well because new soil fills the beds, therefore helping the plants grow and thrive in a tough area.
With so many good reasons to build a raised flower bed, some question the cost and time. De La Torre said that's just another good thing, because they are fairly inexpensive, can be whatever height a gardener chooses and are not too time consuming.
"It's as simple as using some plywood and roof coating as a base," De La Torre said. "I recommend putting the roof coating on to make the flower bed last five, seven or eight years. To really elevate and make the flower bed look even better, an inexpensive way is through railroad ties. They go with almost any architectural building plans."
De La Torre said he has plenty of railroad ties available at his store on 5th Street, ranging from $3 to $10. He and his staff will also answer any questions on a flower bed project.
According to SafeGardening.com, the first thing to decide in constructing a raised flower bed is where in the garden it will go. You must choose a place where plants will benefit the most from sunlight.
Besides plywood and railroad ties, other suggested materials are rock, brick or concrete.
One thing to remember, however, is that all materials must be non-toxic.
The Safe Gardening Web site suggests that the gardener have a shape for the structure in mind, and then peg some stakes in the ground, which delineate the areas within the flower bed. Chalk or a garden hose can also be used to formulate the desired shape.
Once the shape is formed, it is suggested that a couple of inches of sand or gravel be put on the bottom of the interior with some rock or pebbles to help with drainage.
Once that is complete, construction can begin with building the sides of the flowerbed.
Safe Gardening recommends the height of the flowerbed be a foot or two off the ground, unless you suffer from back problems, then make the height closer to the waist.
It is also recommended not to make the new structure so wide that you have to stretch across the flowerbed. Three to four feet wide is suggested.
Once the desired height and width are reached, fill the interior with topsoil. Eight inches of soil is recommended.
Rake the soil to even it, and begin planting.
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