DIY Raised Strawberry Beds

As we all know, maintaining a vegetable garden and properly planning your fertilizing and caring for it is a science in itself. Reading information is not enough. Everything must be done correctly and on time, otherwise the results simply won't be satisfying.

 

There are many nuances necessary for achieving the best results in garden plots. Experienced gardeners today use raised beds in their plots, built by themselves. These structures help keep the soil looking its best, and this approach offers numerous advantages.

 

Raised strawberry beds, made by hand, can provide a bountiful spring harvest and also enhance the garden's landscape. Experienced gardeners often plant early-ripening crops in such structures, ensuring early fruit production.

It's important to note that when planning garden beds, consider the width, height, and location of the structure. The width should be chosen so that you can walk around it from all sides and reach the center of the bed. Stepping on the soil will disrupt the integrity of the soil, leading to compaction, poor air circulation, and so on.

 

Raised beds are difficult to cultivate. It's also important to consider a convenient approach to such structures. After all, during the summer, you'll need to water, till, and care for the plants. Therefore, it's important to plan your plot first to avoid inconvenience and rework later.

 

Today, the most common method for constructing these structures is using knocked-together wooden boxes. They are made in the form of a tall frame of wide boards. The boards are tightly nailed together and slightly recessed, so there should be no cracks or gaps. Adjacent joints ensure a stable structure, and when watering, soil will not leak into the various openings, thereby disrupting soil drainage.

 

To ensure the stable shape of the bed, many experienced gardeners cover the knocked-down frame of the structure with ordinary polyethylene, which in turn prevents cracks from appearing through which soil can leak, and also maintains the necessary moisture in the bed.

Experts in this field recommend laying a fine-mesh metal mesh at the bottom of the planned garden bed, which rodents dislike, and then adding potting soil. Once the soil has filled the bed to the desired volume, it should be thoroughly watered, as this will often create depressions that require additional soil.

 

The soil composition for strawberries should contain the necessary nutrients for this plant. A raised bed warms quickly and well in the sun. This is one of the best options for strawberries, but before planting the runners in this luxurious structure, it's important to properly prepare the soil. Urea, compost, ash, or humus can be used for this purpose.

 

But even if the soil is extremely fertile, if it contains a high sand content, such a bed will not retain the moisture needed by strawberries. Therefore, when filling the soil, it's important to consider this important detail. After all, every gardener knows that strawberries require ample moisture, especially in the spring when the plants are in bloom.

To remedy the situation when the permissible sand level is exceeded, many people use sawdust, which is excellent at retaining moisture and also acts as a fertilizer. Moreover, sawdust prevents the upper soil layers from drying out and cracking. If clay soil is found, it is essential to dilute it with sand, otherwise the harvest on such soil will be extremely meager.

 

Slate beds are also a budget-friendly option for gardeners, offering durability and convenience. The required height of the sides should be driven deeper into the ground to ensure proper stability, and then the required amount of soil should be added.

 

Many people often dislike the dull gray color of slate; wood looks most appealing against it. To remedy this, you can weave a fence of willow twigs along the outside edge of the curb—a design that will surely appeal to any gardener.

About how to do it right plant strawberries in the fall read here.