High beds in the country with your own hands: photos and technology

High beds in the country with your own hands: photos and manufacturing technology

This article describes all the subtleties of the process during which high beds are created in the country with their own hands: photos and detailed descriptions of 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.

A high vegetable garden greatly facilitates the care of the suburban area

High beds in the country with your own hands: photos and design features

The construction of high beds opens up new opportunities for growing crops in the garden. Such an approach to the organization of plantings allows you to create an interesting design on the site, effectively grow berries, fruits and vegetables. There is an opportunity to get a wonderful harvest from a plot whose soil is not particularly fertile.

Raised beds are an ideal solution for areas with swampy or dry soil

Heating of tall structures occurs much faster than in conventional beds. The process of caring for plants is simplified, since a person does not need to bend too low.

Pay attention! Organic substances are 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 yield a rich harvest.

Features of high beds: 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 vegetable crops.

Raised beds need only double digging — during planting and during harvesting

Advantages of raised structures:

• the availability of the 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 intensive care. It will only take twice to dig up the ground. 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 up the soil with the help of garden forks;

Fencing for a high bed of wooden beams

• the production 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;
• accelerated ripening of vegetables in high beds is facilitated by a good drainage system, which is organized inside the structure;
• the soil on the high beds is protected from freezing, which often happens in spring when frosts return. During the early autumn frosts, it is enough just to cover the plantings with a tarpaulin or polyethylene so that they do not die;
• the construction of high beds for strawberries allows you to save the berries from erosion by heavy rains, which often destroy the harvest.

High beds with sides greatly simplify the care of the garden

There are few disadvantages to the designs. They consist in the need for enhanced mineral fertilization and frequent watering. You will also need to monitor 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 vegetable gardens of triangular shape;
• multi – tiered structures;
• bulk beds of trapezoidal shape;
• decorative vegetable gardens.

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

Pay attention! 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 buy boards and bricks to create high beds, as well as a mixture that improves soil quality and drainage.

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

The soil for high beds should be light, crumbly and “fluffy”

A similar scheme is used to create a trapezoidal bed. The upper part of the bulk vegetable garden should not exceed 0.3 m in width. To cover the upper slopes, you can use boards. It is also allowed to use mulch, which will have a positive effect on the condition of the soil.

For the manufacture of a multi-tiered strawberry bed with your own hands, a profile pipe or reinforcement is suitable. The metal elements of the structure are fastened by welding or by bolting. Containers or boxes filled with soil are put on the finished frame base.

Fences for high beds made of galvanized metal

Making high beds: photos 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. Also popular are the technologies for making high beds of slate with their own hands.

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

Reinforced concrete slabs can be used for the arrangement of raised beds

The most durable and durable beds are made of brick or stone. Large elements are connected using a concrete mortar. Concrete itself is often used, while working with which it is necessary to carefully consider the shape, size parameters and location of the vegetable garden, since the bed in this case will be stationary and it will not work to move it over time. When making 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;
• ready-made structures in the form of fences made of plastic.

As a fence for high beds, you can use a metal profile

Pay attention! The construction of high beds made of plastic panels is the most budget–friendly way to get a vegetable garden. In the assortment of individual stores, you can even find plastic slate.

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

Igor Lyadov’s beds are based on a technology invented at the end of the twentieth century by Jacob Mittlider. The American worked on creating optimal designs for growing strawberries. These products are distinguished from ordinary beds-boxes by their reduced width – only 45 cm. Any material can be used for the manufacture of boards, but boards are most often used.

As a filler, fertile land and a layer of sawdust are used. The Mittlider took a width of 0.9 m to the tracks between the structures . In order to prevent the growth of weeds in this area, the vegetable grower spread agrofibre.

Any material can be used to make the sides of a raised vegetable garden, but boards are most often used

Unlike his American colleague, Igor Lyadov suggests using organic rather than mineral supplements. He became the author of several recipes, which include such traditional fertilizers 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.

Between the structures there are passages with a width of 0.6-0.8 m. This area can be covered with roofing material, sand, tiles or sawdust to make it easier to move along the plantings and not think about weeds. The space of the 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 borders.

If the soil on the site is not of very good quality, it is better to use purchased soil for the beds

Pay attention! Igor Lyadov strictly designated the placement of beds. Landings should be placed from the north side to the south. This is the only way the plants will be provided with the necessary level of illumination by the sun. 

A high bed with your own hands: how to make a wooden structure 

The technology provides for the construction of a 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 the suburban area. At the first stage of construction, the optimal place for the placement of a vegetable garden is selected. It is better if the selected area is illuminated by the sun for at least 5 hours during the day. For this purpose, even a place unsuitable for growing crops, for example, a wasteland, is suitable.

Related article:

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

Recommendations for their creation. Tips for designing an unusual landscape design on the site.

After that, the design of the beds in the suburban area is being developed, photos of interesting placement options can be found on the Internet or in gardening magazines. Before the start of construction, the site is cleared of debris, stones and rhizomes of perennial weeds. Annual weeds can not be removed, since the need for this procedure disappears during the primary digging of the territory.

A raised bed can be arranged on any part of the lawn

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

Before you start assembling the frame, you should treat the wooden elements with a special impregnation or antiseptic to stop the rotting processes and prevent rapid damage to the material, which can be caused by exposure to moisture. The outside of the board can be painted or coated with a varnishing compound. 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 bed provides two levels, each of the tiers is fastened with the help of bars.

A high bed should be in the sun for at least 5 hours a day

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

How to fill a high bed of boards made with your own hands 

Filling of a high bed is carried out in the following order:

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

The density of plantings on a high bed is twice as high as on a regular one

After the bed is filled, it should be watered abundantly and allowed to infuse for 2-3 days so that all the 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, you need to cover the structure with a black material. Polyethylene will do.

Useful advice! If the construction of beds is carried out in late summer or autumn, the structure should be left covered until spring.

Making vertical beds with your own hands: photos and technologies 

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

Warm high beds accelerate the cultivation of plants, as the soil warms up better and seedlings can be planted earlier

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 themselves, but also buy vertical beds in a ready-made form in one of the specialized stores.

Why is it profitable to create or buy a vertical strawberry bed 

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

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

Vertically installed beds do not require complex maintenance. The plantings are at a sufficient height so that weeding or harvesting can be carried out in convenient conditions. This does not require bending low and suffering back pain. At the same time, the plants and their roots are raised high above the ground, where rodents and small pests cannot reach. Beds with a pyramidal structure or in the form of a cylinder do not allow birds to land comfortably to eat berries.

Prices for finished structures:

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.);

A vertical bed is an ideal solution for a small household plot

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

4 support boards are used to create the foundation. To make them, you can cut a board with a length of 2 m. It is recommended to make incisions at an acute angle so that it is convenient to connect the pieces later.

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

Vertical structures save space and are suitable for growing flowers, strawberries, greens, vegetables

After that, a pair of boards with a length of 2 m, having an angular cut at the edges, is laid on a horizontal plane and connected to each other. A rail is mounted in the base to organize the future garden 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, the length of the rails intended for the manufacture of beds is measured using a tape measure. They should be placed in increments of 25-30 cm . To fix the slats, you will need to cut the ends at an angle of 30 ° so that the shelf turns out to be raised. At the end of the assembly, the structure is filled with soil, which should be tamped. The products can also be successfully used for growing vegetable crops and greenery.

Strawberries have small roots, so it is very easy to grow in pots

Technology of manufacturing vertical beds for strawberries from plastic pipes 

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

List of necessary tools and materials:

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

Strawberries can be grown in plastic pipes intended for the arrangement of a sewer or drainage system

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

Pay attention! Since the structure, being in a suspended state, can swing, it is recommended to install the bed in places protected from the wind. 

An excellent vertical bed with an original irrigation system will turn out of ordinary plastic pipes

Construction of vertical beds with your own hands from a construction grid

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

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

Vertical bed for cucumbers built with a grid

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

If potato cultivation is planned, the first level of plants should be located at a height of 50 cm from the ground. About 10 cm should be left between the cultures . 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 have any height. To give a vertical bed a more attractive appearance, you can use a black film instead of straw.

To make the fruits large, you need to thin the strawberries, leaving up to 40 centimeters between the rows

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

Flower pots can be successfully used to grow strawberries. Such constructions have a decorative appearance. Clay or plastic products are suitable for work. As a result, the design turns out to be multilevel. The number of such levels is limited only by personal wishes. The 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 is approximately the same.

The largest pot is installed 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.

Strawberries grown in pots need to be fertilized every two weeks

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 a wooden stick should be placed inside a large pot.

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

A garden with high beds can look beautiful, comfortable and generously thank the harvest

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

If there is a high stump or pole on the site, pots can be fixed on it. In no case should you do this on a live tree. The products are fixed around the circumference in any order. The spiral looks beautiful from the outside. You can also use the technique of placing pots in a staggered order. The only disadvantage of this bed is an inconvenient watering system.

Manufacturing technology and photos of vertical beds for strawberries with their own hands from tires 

The tower of car tires is made in the same way as the construction of flower pots. 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 after a year to build new ones from other tires.

If there are old car tires left, then they can be used for vertical strawberry cultivation

Before starting work, car tires need to be prepared:

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

After that, the largest tire should be laid on one side. On the other hand, the side part with a hole for the disc is cut off. The finished element is filled with soil and planted with plants. The same should be done 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.

To make the tires more attractive, it’s enough just to cover them with paint

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

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

On a bed made from a bag, the plants will look great. Such a structure can be conveniently placed on a fence, a wall of a gazebo, a house, a shed or any other stationary building. To work, you will need a bag made of plastic or natural fabric. Burlap is much better in the operational sense. It is eco-friendly and, unlike plastic, is suitable for reusable use. The fact is that artificial materials undergo rapid destruction under the influence of the sun.

Vertical beds do not take up much space and, if you put the structure on wheels, allow you to move it

On the other hand, burlap has a good carrying capacity, providing air access to plants. To prevent the bottom and sides of the bag from breaking through over time under the influence of gravity, it is recommended to stitch them several times. In the upper part of the product, a loop is made for hanging. On one side of the bag there are holes designed for planting plants. After that, the bed can be filled with earth and planted.

Multi-tiered structures can be made of 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.

Original vertical bed from an old table

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

Recommendations for creating vertical beds for strawberries 

Before you start making a vegetable garden, it would be useful to take into account some tips on optimal construction of structures:

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

Growing strawberries in a barrel by the method of vertical beds

• a decorative vegetable garden with berries should be placed strictly in the sun. If the vertical bed will be used for growing greenery, then its design can be located near the kitchen;
• the soil for filling the beds should be prepared in advance. Sandy loam soil with an admixture of peat, fertilizer and hydrogel is suitable for berries. Overworked compost is optimal as a recharge;
• in advance, you need to think about a system that will protect the beds from frost in winter. Will the structure be sheltered or brought into the room;
• it is recommended to place the vegetable garden closer to the water source, so that it is more convenient to carry out regular watering of plants.

Excellent compact vertical beds made of old pallets and burlap

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

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

A vertical bed for cucumbers can be represented by various design options. Most often, bags or products made of plastic are used for growing these crops. The walls of buildings, nets or shields, as well as all kinds of partitions can serve as a surface for fixing beds. A vertical bed for cucumbers with your own hands can be arranged inside a plastic pipe. Such a product is closed on one side and hung vertically on the crossbars.

High beds help to accelerate the ripening of fruits, thereby increasing the yield

A mesh made of plastic is considered the simplest option for organizing a decorative vegetable garden for cucumbers. The product is positioned vertically and the plants rise along the grid as they grow. A similar version of the garden can be bought ready-made or made yourself. This will require a thick fishing line and straight branches of trees that will serve as supports. They are placed in a circle with an equal step and are connected at the top at one point so that a kind of semblance of a hut turns out.

With the help of a thick fishing line, you need to walk around the circle, forming a vertical base for fixing 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. A safe option for growing cucumbers are bags or canvas bags.

The tall wooden structure is considered the most convenient option for growing cucumbers

For the construction of vertical structures, the use of unusual materials is allowed, for example, pallets, old furniture, empty stumps, etc. An unusual approach to decor will allow you to create a vegetable garden on the territory, but a beautiful decorative composition that will optimally fit into the space of the suburban area.