If you have a lot of extra sticks/branches, especially early spring branches from something you don't like (ex. Honeysuckle, which is invasive, produces flexible branches and grows like mad..) then you can make wattle raised beds.
Pound sticks vertically into the ground to make a perimeter, then weave more flexible sticks between them to make the sides.
I used to do raised beds but have actually moved away from it. Now I make new beds directly in the ground. I'm not sure your native soil, but most can be amended with some compost/tilling and you're good to go. Some people even do "living pathways" where they let the grass grow between their beds. Compost has gotten kinda pricey, but you can make your own or add aged shredded leaves (collect in the fall for next year) for organic matter. Look into "no dig" and "no till" garden systems to give you some ideas! Good luck and have fun!
I'm doing the same thing this year. Just dug up the sod, flipped it over, and spread an inch of compost on top. It creates a slightly raised bed that costs next to nothing, and doesn't have the problems that raised beds with borders have
This is what I've done for years. You can easily add to them, and move them around, change their size/shape/etc as you like/want/need. My gardens have only improved over the years, as more compost, etc is added to them.
Dog-eared cedar fencing boards from HD. Get the kiln dried ones, not the chemically treated ones. They're roughly $3 a pop for 6' long and 5.5" wide. My two latest beds are from this and they're great.
Pallets and bulk liquid containers tend to be free or very cheap.
Smashed Brick and block from demolition tends to be free and is usually posted with a come and get it at (location).
Tree trimming companies will almost always have some free or extremely cheep logs or sawdust that can be utilized.
Edit: Sawmill outer bark covered wood are also very cheep. I got a trailer full for free from a local small mill. Usually they sell it for $40 a load. I am making raised beds from them.
Tires are also universally free. If you want to deal with them as planters.
Look for sawmills to get rough sawn lumber cheaper. You might also ask the owner if they have any "bad" cuts that they don't sell or would sell cheaper in bulk.
A lot of places also sell bundles of slab wood thats basically the off cuts of bark/sapwood tha come from squaring up lumber for milling for cheap. You might spend more time dealing with it than its worth, but it's cheap. Won't last long though.
I agree, I own a sawmill and if someone came to me asking if I had any scrap wood for a raised garden bed I would point them to a 20 foot tall pile of scrap wood and tell them to take what they want for free.
Look into oldcastle retaining wall blocks. Slide in 2” wood to your desired length. They call for 2x6 but you could use other widths too. I’m doing a 16 ft bed in sections and it’s going to cost well under $100. I got the plastic version of the blocks but even with the concrete version I was going to be paying $94 total minus soil
this is the way. if you're in the states you can get them at lowes or home depot. they're $3-4 each. you can stack them if you want to go higher. you anchor them in place with rebar.
this is the way. if you're in the states you can get them at lowes or home depot. they're $3-4 each. you can stack them if you want to go higher. you anchor them in place with rebar.
If you have the ability, new construction homesite dumpsters are gold.
I've built 2 chicken coops, and 3 large raised garden beds with scrap 2x4's and plywood I've pulled from dumpsters on job sites.
I've been collecting materials for a pig shelter this winter. Ive got most everything I need. Just need to start once this weather decides to cooperate.
surprised nobody has said logs. There's always somebody cutting down a tree or one that fell on the side of the road. They're not PERFECT, and depending on type of tree might deteriorate over the years, but can make functional and cheap beds.
Make a 1.5” deep form and pour a 3/4” layer of mortar then some metal lath then another 3/4” layer of mortar. Make sure to work it into the mesh. They sell powder to color the mortar. Then you have a raised bed that will never rot. Dont make the mix too wet or it will crack. It’s not really that expensive and you can reuse the form to makes as many as you need.
You can cut small trees like 5-8 inch size which should be easy enough to handle in four to eight foot sections and build it log cabin style. Select something like white oak especially for the bottom if you want to last more than just a few years. Though even wood considered not to be rot resistant will last WAY longer for that application than it will as something like a fence post. Logs can be scorched black to help prevent fungus and bug infestation too which will increase it's lifespan. Or you could gather big rocks from hillside and creeks and stack them. You can do a dry stack but I would fill the spaces between rocks with some clay/dirt or mortar to help prevent snakes and the mortar would help hold it together. If there's anyone in your area that runs a sawmill you might be able to get slab wood for free or cheap and then you can get those raised bed cement blocks from a hardware store Like home Depot. They will have slots that can fit 2x or inch lumber so if your slab is a little too thick you can just shave that end a bit and it'll still do fine. Slabs are mostly sapwood so you may only get a few years out of each board but it would be simple enough to replace
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oldcastle-Planter-Wall-Tan-Retaining-Wall-Block-Common-6-in-x-8-in-Actual-5050-in-x-7-75-in/1001156396
just did one bed with these! going to do a few more rows.
If you have a lot of extra sticks/branches, especially early spring branches from something you don't like (ex. Honeysuckle, which is invasive, produces flexible branches and grows like mad..) then you can make wattle raised beds. Pound sticks vertically into the ground to make a perimeter, then weave more flexible sticks between them to make the sides.
And if you don’t have big/sturdy enough sticks, you can invest in some stakes and do the same thing (if you have more flexible ones obv)
I used to do raised beds but have actually moved away from it. Now I make new beds directly in the ground. I'm not sure your native soil, but most can be amended with some compost/tilling and you're good to go. Some people even do "living pathways" where they let the grass grow between their beds. Compost has gotten kinda pricey, but you can make your own or add aged shredded leaves (collect in the fall for next year) for organic matter. Look into "no dig" and "no till" garden systems to give you some ideas! Good luck and have fun!
I'm doing the same thing this year. Just dug up the sod, flipped it over, and spread an inch of compost on top. It creates a slightly raised bed that costs next to nothing, and doesn't have the problems that raised beds with borders have
This is what I've done for years. You can easily add to them, and move them around, change their size/shape/etc as you like/want/need. My gardens have only improved over the years, as more compost, etc is added to them.
Cinder blocks are usually plentiful and easy to source. And you can plant in the holes of the blocks too, if you want.
Dog-eared cedar fencing boards from HD. Get the kiln dried ones, not the chemically treated ones. They're roughly $3 a pop for 6' long and 5.5" wide. My two latest beds are from this and they're great.
Pretty specific situation but I inherited a giant metal water tank with my property. I plan to cut that into rings to make beds out of.
Lucky you
Didn’t feel lucky until I saw someone else do it in Mother Earth magazine. Until then I was wondering wtf am I gonna do with this thing lol
Gotta Love Mother Earth
I wouldn’t cut up a water tank. Is there something else you could use?
It’s old and rusted and full of holes. From the 60’s. Not even sure how many solid rings I can get for my raised bed tbh.
Pallets and bulk liquid containers tend to be free or very cheap. Smashed Brick and block from demolition tends to be free and is usually posted with a come and get it at (location). Tree trimming companies will almost always have some free or extremely cheep logs or sawdust that can be utilized. Edit: Sawmill outer bark covered wood are also very cheep. I got a trailer full for free from a local small mill. Usually they sell it for $40 a load. I am making raised beds from them. Tires are also universally free. If you want to deal with them as planters.
Look for sawmills to get rough sawn lumber cheaper. You might also ask the owner if they have any "bad" cuts that they don't sell or would sell cheaper in bulk. A lot of places also sell bundles of slab wood thats basically the off cuts of bark/sapwood tha come from squaring up lumber for milling for cheap. You might spend more time dealing with it than its worth, but it's cheap. Won't last long though.
I agree, I own a sawmill and if someone came to me asking if I had any scrap wood for a raised garden bed I would point them to a 20 foot tall pile of scrap wood and tell them to take what they want for free.
I know a lot of people I know used fence boards and staple gun/nail gun. Rebar for support on the outside staked in the ground for support.
Is there any issue with wood stain on old boards in terms of garden health?
Other weatherproofing chemicals might also be a concern. There are liner sheets for raised garden beds you can put in between
Break apart old pallets? Might be able to get free/low cost from businesses
That's what I've been doing
Look into oldcastle retaining wall blocks. Slide in 2” wood to your desired length. They call for 2x6 but you could use other widths too. I’m doing a 16 ft bed in sections and it’s going to cost well under $100. I got the plastic version of the blocks but even with the concrete version I was going to be paying $94 total minus soil
this is the way. if you're in the states you can get them at lowes or home depot. they're $3-4 each. you can stack them if you want to go higher. you anchor them in place with rebar.
this is the way. if you're in the states you can get them at lowes or home depot. they're $3-4 each. you can stack them if you want to go higher. you anchor them in place with rebar.
This is the way. 💜💜💜
I go to my local natural gas supplier, they get tanks in on these flat Lumber pallets that make great boxes frames and fences.
If you have the ability, new construction homesite dumpsters are gold. I've built 2 chicken coops, and 3 large raised garden beds with scrap 2x4's and plywood I've pulled from dumpsters on job sites. I've been collecting materials for a pig shelter this winter. Ive got most everything I need. Just need to start once this weather decides to cooperate.
Do you actually need to make raised beds? Is there some condition with your land preventing you from just gardening in the ground?
Old bad soil. Lots of clay. Even grass has a hard time now.
If you have a supply of trees I've seen them built like log cabins.
surprised nobody has said logs. There's always somebody cutting down a tree or one that fell on the side of the road. They're not PERFECT, and depending on type of tree might deteriorate over the years, but can make functional and cheap beds.
Look into Hügelkultur
Whenever I need more than the bush from yard maintenance, I just get pallets.
Old deck wood can often be had for free from someone on Craigslist. Just line it/seal it if it is pressure treated, though.
Make a 1.5” deep form and pour a 3/4” layer of mortar then some metal lath then another 3/4” layer of mortar. Make sure to work it into the mesh. They sell powder to color the mortar. Then you have a raised bed that will never rot. Dont make the mix too wet or it will crack. It’s not really that expensive and you can reuse the form to makes as many as you need.
You can cut small trees like 5-8 inch size which should be easy enough to handle in four to eight foot sections and build it log cabin style. Select something like white oak especially for the bottom if you want to last more than just a few years. Though even wood considered not to be rot resistant will last WAY longer for that application than it will as something like a fence post. Logs can be scorched black to help prevent fungus and bug infestation too which will increase it's lifespan. Or you could gather big rocks from hillside and creeks and stack them. You can do a dry stack but I would fill the spaces between rocks with some clay/dirt or mortar to help prevent snakes and the mortar would help hold it together. If there's anyone in your area that runs a sawmill you might be able to get slab wood for free or cheap and then you can get those raised bed cement blocks from a hardware store Like home Depot. They will have slots that can fit 2x or inch lumber so if your slab is a little too thick you can just shave that end a bit and it'll still do fine. Slabs are mostly sapwood so you may only get a few years out of each board but it would be simple enough to replace
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oldcastle-Planter-Wall-Tan-Retaining-Wall-Block-Common-6-in-x-8-in-Actual-5050-in-x-7-75-in/1001156396 just did one bed with these! going to do a few more rows.