How to Build a Raised Garden Bed | Step-By-Step Guide | Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid!

How to DIY build a raised garden bed, affordably! We build our own raised garden bed as we realized we needed one to avoid making a long trip every week (during the pandemic) to the local grocery store.
#permaculture #naturalfarming #foodforest #forestgarden
We started a food forest garden a year ago with fruit trees, berries, and nuts.
We then shifted our focus to herbs and vegetable beds that would not only look pretty to the eyes but also last longer.
So, we came up with the idea of building raised garden beds using untreated wood and cement blocks, no tools required.
The top 10 Mistakes To Avoid :
1. F-150 I used to haul cement blocks did not have enough Payload Capacity: I was only 5 miles away from the home improvement store and was lucky to manage to drive home without a flat tire and get pulled over.
If I must do it again, I won’t use the F-150. I would also not buy an entire pallet.
2. I overestimated the cement blocks: Returning them was a pain in the neck as they were not easy to load and unload. I got bruises all over my fingers and body.
If I must do it again, I will make sure to gear up myself with appropriate attire while handling them.
3. Not leaving enough space between the two beds: I planned based on what I thought would make more sense but I did not realize that once I hit the curve and turned right or left with a wheelbarrow, I would need more space to maneuver.
If I must do it again, I will plan to leave at least 4ft between the corners of the beds, not just between two parallel beds.
4. Using cheap grass barrier: I used low-grade landscaping fabric. It did nothing to stop the opportunists (native grasses and other plants) from poking through the fabric. Spring came, then came the summer, and the entire garden took its previous form/state again.
If I must do it again, I will not use any landscaping fabric. I would get the cardboard from Craigslist or from the local big box stores (they discard them and most likely end up in a dump container on the back). I would use cardboard as the floor base.
5. Not clearing out the floor surface: The section where we build raised beds had raised beds in the past, from the previous owner. The floor was covered with rocks and stones and sizes ranging from small to big. It caused the surface to be uneven and even with the 2 inches of woodchips over them, I could still feel a few rocks poking my feet here and there.
If I must do it again, I will not start laying out the cardboard until I clear everything from rocks, to plastics, to older fabrics that stay underneath.
6. Underestimating the damage done to the wood planks: I used all-natural tung oil as a sealer. However, what I did not realize was contact with soil and organic matter. In just 2nd summer, the wood planks started to age.
If I must do it again, I will triple coat with a natural and bio-based sealer that will increase the age of the woods for at least 5 years before I can replace them.
7. Not using enough wood chips: I put about 2 inches of wood chips over the fabric. It was not enough to stop those opportunists from growing out.
If I must do it again, I would cover the surface with at least 10 inches, if not a foot. You might think it’s a lot of wood chips, but over time with enough rain (in less than a yr) it decomposes quickly.
8. Overly using compost: It made the soil very imbalanced and with the fungus dominant, most of the veggies we planted (or showed seeds) either did not sprout or became leggy and weak. We had a crop failure, and the harvest was very small to none.
If I must do it again, I would make sure I use the proper balance of compost, topsoil, and other soil amendments as minerals and such. Most likely, I would just sow alfalfa and clover over the fall. Let it grow for a year and then start planting the veggies next year when the soil becomes natural and well-balanced.
9. Underestimating the water requirement: I used a water hose to water my veggies every other day for the summer crops. It became tedious and soon I installed a sprinkler system (not drip irrigation). It did more harm than good. 50% of the crop had some kind of fungus disease, which I am still investigating.
If I must do it again, I will use Fukuoka’s Natural Farming method.
10. Building a Veggie Raised Garden Bed too far from the house: It was one of the biggest mistakes I made. I only thought about the 8 hrs of direct sunlight and chose the spot.
Since it was not too close to the house, it did not get as much attention as it deserved.
If I must do it again, I will build the raised garden beds close to the house where it would get more attention and prompt action in case of pests and disease issues. Harvesting would be more desirable and worry-free, too, if the beds were built close to the house.