© Future / Mark Bolton ZeroAre you wondering what to put under the raised bed? Have you recently added a raised bed structure to your garden and why is a foundation necessary or useful?
Elevated garden ideas offer great opportunities for planting in backyards that may have poor soil or land to work with. Once you understand how to build a raised bed, it's important to prepare your bed properly to avoid bed gardening mistakes that can harm your plants in the long run.
Here we asked the experts what materials are best placed under a raised flower bed to create the best foundation for your plants.
What should I put at the bottom of the raised garden?
"What you put under your raised bed depends on personal preference, but any material that creates a barrier between the base of your raised bed and the ground will do," says Rachel Crow, garden editor for Homes . & Gardens . "But there are some materials that work better than others to prevent weed growth in flower beds while allowing natural drainage in your garden ideas."
1. Cover with cardboard or newspaper
Newsprint and cardboard are inexpensive and relatively abundant materials for lining your bedding.
"If you're looking for something inexpensive that you probably already have at home, we recommend rummaging through old newspapers or using cardboard packaging from a recent Amazon order. We're sure everyone has one." Fiona Jenkins, in My Job Quotes, says gardener.
Newsprint or cardboard can be a great way to get rid of weeds in your bed. Just add layers before building your bed. Or use it as mulch for the top of your garden bed. This will retain water and keep your bushes moist,” he says.
When deciding between the two for your raised bed, you should consider the age of the film, as thick cardboard will wear out before the newspaper tears.
2. Invest in landscaping fabrics
“Field fabric is a great option designed specifically for lining the underside of your bed,” says Rachel Crow. "It's very durable and resistant to decay, which makes it a more sustainable alternative to cardboard and newsprint if you can afford it," he says.
“Landscape sheets are especially useful for gardens that are prone to overgrowth of weeds. It keeps weeds at bay year-round and allows your plants to live their best lives," adds Fiona Jenkins." Landscaping fabrics are the most popular weed barrier, perfect choice for flower beds. Small hole in the fabric. they allow nutrients to penetrate the soil preventing the development of unwanted plants and pests. You can buy landscaping fabric at any hardware and home improvement store.
“If you are looking for something sturdy and reliable to keep small animals from digging into your bushes, mouse nets (also known as stainless steel gopher nets) are your best bet,” continued Fiona. To prevent pests such as mice from getting into your bed, a mouse net can be attached to the garden bed frame before adding soil. As the name suggests, rat nets are strong enough to prevent rats from chewing on threads.
Landscaping fabrics are readily available on Amazon and local garden centers, making them a great budget option that only needs to be replaced every decade.
3. Consider canvas as an alternative to fabric
"Jute bags are another great alternative to more expensive materials," says Fiona. “When growing flowers, vegetables and shrubs, you often find burlap sacks tied to the bottom of the beds to prevent weed growth.
"If you're wondering if you already have a burlap sack at home, a potato sack is a great tool to eat." While it won't last as long as eco-friendly fabric, it will last for several years without needing to be replaced, making it a more durable solution than cardboard.
Hemp is a natural material that allows proper water drainage for plants and garden ideas.
“If you put burlap on the bottom of your raised bed, remember to cover it completely with soil for the raised bed, as the burlap and frayed edges will break apart more quickly with exposure to the elements,” says Rachel.
4. Place stones for last minute selection
Rocks are not the best choice for preventing weeds from growing in your raised bed, but they will provide your raised bed with a stable base and dry out in no time.
You will need various stones to completely cover the bottom of the bed. Smaller stones and gravel are used to fill in some of the gaps left by the larger stones. However, it is necessary to leave some free space to allow water to drain and prevent mold, root rot and fungal diseases in the soil.
5. Fight pests with cloth
If you're more interested in pests and little critters in your garden than weeds, lining the underside of your raised bed is a great way to keep the little critters away from the roots of your plants.
“Open mesh fabrics are a great choice for repelling weeds and even furry animals. However, the net still allows nature's benefits to reach your bushes and keep them in bloom all year round.
Tape the net under the raised bed frame to keep it secure. Loose knit fabrics are extremely durable and are a fantastic investment for the amateur grower,” suggests Fiona.
Why should you level a raised garden floor?
"Covering for the underside of your bed is essential for plant health and longevity," says Fiona. “There are several reasons to mulch the garden before adding soil. The main reasons are: to protect plants from weed growth, to prevent small animals from entering flowerbeds and to create optimal conditions for your plants to grow.
“The material you choose depends primarily on the goals you want to achieve with your flower bed. If you want to keep annoying animals away, mouse nets and loose net accessories are the best choices. If your garden is prone to weeds, landscaping fabrics are a great option. If you're conserving moisture or looking for a cheaper alternative to covering your bed, newspaper, cardboard, or canvas are your best friends!
Leave your bed empty
"You can leave the bottom of your bed exposed if you want, but you don't have protection from weeds and pests," Rachel says. If your garden bed is less than 6 inches, you can't use barriers to give the plant roots enough room to grow. Ideally, all beds deeper than 6'' should have a protective layer between the raised bed base and the floor.
Lining the bottom of the raised bed can help protect the soil from temperature extremes and keep the soil in the bed rather than letting it drain with excess water.
Does a raised bed need a floor?
Even if the bottom of the raised bed is covered, the raised bed itself must not have a closed bottom. Raised beds should be left exposed to the soil to allow plant roots to grow deeper into the soil for much needed nutrients.
How deep should the raised bed be?
The raised bed should have at least 20 cm of soil to accommodate most of the plant's root system. If you want to give your plant an optimal growing environment, aim for 20-30 cm of soil.
