Raised Bed Gardening Tools for Construction

For many gardeners, raised bed gardening offers numerous advantages over traditional in-ground gardening. The rich, loose soil in a raised bed enables plants to thrive with less effort. Raised beds also help maximize limited space, allow earlier planting, and reduce back strain. With the right tools on hand, raised beds can be simple to construct and maintain for years of bountiful harvests.

When embarking on a new raised bed project, it's important to start with careful planning and material selection. Choose a sunny, level spot with access to water. Consider the size and layout - beds at least 3 feet wide allow easy access. Hardwood lumber, brick, stone, and manufactured wood kits make attractive, durable options. Have your design finalized before purchasing materials and tools.

Essential Tools To Construct Raised Beds

Constructing raised garden beds requires just a few key tools. A shovel or spade allows you to dig into the ground for wooden post holes or remove sod in preparation for installing stones or bricks. A sturdy rake helps level the soil base and remove debris. A carpenter's level ensures the raised bed edges are precisely straight and flat.

For driving in posts or assembling wooden planks, have on hand a hammer, nail gun, cordless drill, saw, and utility knife for cutting wood or weed barrier fabric. A tape measure is vital for exact sizing. A screwdriver secures screws to hold together corner joints or install hardware cloth lining. Lastly, a wheelbarrow eases transporting soil, compost, tools, and materials around the garden.

Shovel or Spade

A quality shovel with a long handle and pointed blade excels at digging holes for installing vertical wood posts around the bed perimeter. Look for a shovel with a tempered steel blade for strength and soil-penetrating ability. Spading forks work well for loosening and turning soil in preparation for filling raised beds.

Rake

A sturdy metal garden rake with short, rigid tines levels the soil base and removes rocks or debris before installing bricks or lumber frames. Choose a rake sized appropriately for navigating narrow beds, like a bow rake.

Level

A two- or four-foot carpenter's level ensures raised beds have perfectly straight edges and flat tops. Leveling is crucial for proper drainage. Place the level along boards and bricks and check for flatness frequently while building.

Building Wooden Raised Beds

For those opting for classic wooden raised beds, basic carpentry tools are needed for measuring, cutting, and fastening the boards together into a frame. Pine, cedar, or redwood boards are common choices for their natural weather resistance.

Tape Measure

An essential tool for building raised beds from scratch is an accurate tape measure at least 25 feet long. Measure perimeter dimensions and mark lumber cutting lines.

Saw

A hand saw or circular power saw cuts lumber and wood boards to exact lengths. Look for a 7 1/4" circular saw for versatility. Cut boards with straight edges for tight fit.

Drill/Nail Gun

A power drill drives in screws to secure corners and joints tightly. For efficiency, a nail gun rapidly nails boards together. A hammer can substitute when attaching a small number of boards.

Utility Knife

A sharp utility knife cuts weed barrier fabric to fit inside beds or slices into wood ends to recess boards for a seamless, stacked edge appearance.

Building Brick or Stone Raised Beds

For a classical look, brick and stone make handsome raised bed building materials. Stack them into freestanding walls, using simple tools for installation.

Shovel and Level

Use a pointed shovel to dig 7-12 inch deep trenches for the front and back walls to rest on solid earth. Check with a 4 foot level for precisely even trenches.

Mason's Trowel

A triangular mason's trowel applies mortar between bricks or stones. Look for a trowel with a steel blade and sturdy handle for leverage in forcing material into cracks.

Rubber Mallet

Gently tap bricks or rocks into place without cracking using a soft rubber mallet. Tap to settle materials into the mortar for maximum stability.

Filling Your Raised Bed

With the frame built, it's time to fill raised beds with nutrient-rich soil for healthy plant growth. When filling, use a shovel and rake to move soil from piles into the bed. Compost and fertilizers provide nutrients; mix them in well. Leave about 5 inches of space for settling and to keep soil from spilling over the edges.

Wheelbarrow

A steel or plastic garden cart with oversized wheels easily transports soil bags, compost, tools, and materials to raised bed sites. Choose a wheelbarrow sized appropriately for navigating garden paths.

Garden Fork

Use a digging fork to loosen and turn soil piles when filling beds. Fork tines help blend amendments deeply into the soil mix.

Garden Rake

A steel bow rake levels newly added soil and removes rocks or debris from the bed. Rake soil to about 1 inch from the top of the boards or bricks.

Ongoing Raised Bed Maintenance

Consistent maintenance keeps raised beds looking their best and plants healthy and productive. Plan to spend 10-15 minutes per week on basic care. Maintain a toolkit of essentials for ongoing tasks.

Hori Hori Knife

This multipurpose tool digs up weeds, takes soil samples, makes planting holes, and harvests root crops. The knife edge slices through soil easily.

Hand Trowel

A hand trowel transplants seedlings with minimal root disturbance. The short handle provides leverage in tight spaces between plants.

Soft Tie Materials

Twist ties, plant tape, or fabric strips gently tie up growing tomato vines or floppy perennials. Choose soft materials that won't cut into stems.

Pruners

Pruning shears neatly trim errant branches and cut back spent vegetable plants at season's end. Clean, sharp blades ensure precise cuts.

Choosing Plants for Raised Beds

When selecting vegetables and flowers for raised beds, keep mature sizes in mind. Plants with shallow roots, like greens, carrots, or beans thrive in the approximately 12 inch deep soil beds provide. Choose compact vegetable varieties suitable for tight confines. Herbs and trailing flowers add beauty to bed edges.

Succession Planting

Replacing spent early season crops with new ones yields ongoing harvests from limited bed space. Radishes preceding beans or lettuce followed by kale keeps productivity high.

Companion Planting

Strategically intermingle plants providing mutual benefits like pest protection or nutrient support. Pair tomatoes with basil and carrots with lettuce for enhanced growth.

Crop Rotation

Rotating vegetable families to new beds each year limits soil-borne disease buildup. Mark plans to guide rotations.

Additional Handy Tools for Raised Bed Gardening

Beyond essential construction and maintenance tools, certain additional handy accessories make raised bed tasks easier. Watering cans or hoses with spray nozzles cut down on lugging heavy watering buckets. Protect emerging seedlings or extend seasons with protective row covers and cloches. Support climbing vines and keep produce clean and upright with trellises and cages.

Garden Fork

Use a long-tined digging fork to efficiently turn soil, loosen roots, and lightly cultivate raised beds with minimal disturbance.