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 the technology, types of structures, their purpose and features, advantages and disadvantages. Specificity of vertical products intended for growing strawberries, cucumbers and other crops, recommendations for their production.

High beds in the country with their own hands: photo and manufacturing technology

A high vegetable garden greatly facilitates the care of a summer cottage

Do-it-yourself high beds in the country: photo and design features

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

Raised beds - ideal for wet or dry areas

Raised beds - ideal for wet or dry areas

The warming up of tall structures is much faster than that of ordinary beds. Plant care is simplified because the person does not have to bend over too low.

Note! Organic substances are used as filler for tall beds. Due to the fact that the roots of plants are located in a nutrient medium, crops grow faster and give a rich harvest.

Features of high beds: the 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 only need to be digged twice - during planting and during harvest

Raised beds only need to be digged twice - during planting and during harvest

The advantages of raised structures:

  • the availability of a 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 rocky surfaces or heavy clay soil;
  • the beds simplify the process of cultivating the land, do not require intensive care. You only need to dig the ground twice. 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, you do not need to dig deep into the soil, it is enough to stir the soil with a garden pitchfork;
Fence for a high bed made of wooden beams

Fence for a high bed made of wooden beams

  • making 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 in high beds is protected from freezing, which often occurs in the spring when frosts return. During early autumn frosts, it is enough just to cover the plantings with 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 downpours, which often destroy the crop.
High beds with sides greatly simplify the maintenance of the garden

High beds with sides greatly simplify the maintenance of the garden

There are few disadvantages to the designs. They consist in the need for enhanced mineral feeding and frequent watering. You will also need to follow the bear. This pest loves to settle in 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 owners of summer cottages:

  • bulk gardens of a triangular shape;
  • multi-tiered structures;
  • trapezoidal bulk beds;
  • decorative gardens.
For fences, it is better to take wood - the most affordable, easy to install and environmentally friendly material

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

Note! To equip high beds does not require large costs. Many summer residents use materials at hand for these purposes. In most cases, it is enough to create high beds. boards and bricks, as well as a mixture that improves soil quality and drainage.

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

The soil for tall beds should be light, crumbly and fluffy.

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

A similar scheme is used to create a trapezoidal bed. In this case, the upper part of the bulk garden should not exceed 0.3 m in width. Planks can be used to cover the upper slopes. It is also allowed to use mulch, which will positively affect the condition of the soil.

For making a multi-tiered strawberry bed with your own hands, a profile pipe or fittings are suitable. Metal structural elements are fastened by welding or by bolting. Containers or boxes filled with soil are put on the finished frame base.

Galvanized metal high bed fencing

Galvanized metal high bed fencing

Making high beds: photo 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. Do-it-yourself technologies for making tall slate beds are also popular.

Wood is considered a traditional material for creating practical and reliable tall beds. Slate is also popular, but less environmentally friendly. In addition, it has one significant drawback - a fragile structure. During the construction of the garden, this material can be damaged if you neglect the rules for handling it.

Reinforced concrete slabs can be used to equip raised beds

Reinforced concrete slabs can be used to equip raised beds

The most durable and strong beds are made from brick or stone. Large elements are connected using concrete mortar. Often, concrete itself is used, while working with which one should carefully consider the shape, dimensional parameters and location of the garden, since the garden bed in this case will be stationary and it will not be possible to move it over time. When making structures from 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 plastic fences.
A metal profile can be used as a fence for high beds

A metal profile can be used as a fence for high beds

Note! Building high beds from plastic panels is the cheapest way to get a vegetable garden. You can even find plastic slate in the assortment of individual stores.

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

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

Fertile soil and an interlayer of sawdust are used as a filler. On the paths between the structures, Mittlider set the width of 0.9 m. To prevent the growth of weeds in this area, the grower spread agrofibre.

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

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

Unlike his American colleague, Igor Lyadov suggests using organics rather than mineral supplements. He has authored several formulations that include traditional fertilizers such as bird droppings and manure, as well as herbs. The design of the beds looks somewhat different in the photo. Lyadov's high beds are 0.6-1 m wide.

Passages 0.6-0.8 m wide remain between the structures. 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 boundaries.

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

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

Note! Igor Lyadov strictly defined the placement of the beds. Landings should be located from north to south. Only in this way the plants will be provided with the required level of sunlight. 

Do-it-yourself high bed: how to make wooden structure 

The technology provides for the construction of a bed, the width of which is 180 cm, the length is 3 m, and the height is 40 cm. However, the dimensional parameters of the structure can be changed taking into account the area of ​​the summer cottage. At the first stage of construction, the optimal place for placing a vegetable garden is selected. It is better if the selected area will be illuminated by the sun during the day for at least 5 hours. For this purpose, even a place unsuitable for growing crops is suitable, for example, a wasteland.

Related article:

Do-it-yourself beautiful garden beds in the country: 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 summer cottage is being developed, photos of interesting accommodation options can be found on the Internet or in gardening magazines. Before starting 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 initial digging of the territory.

The raised bed can be arranged anywhere on the lawn

The raised bed can be arranged anywhere on the lawn

Fences are prepared first. To do this, you will need to cut the material so that you get 4 boards 1.8 m long and 4 boards 3 m long.In addition, you should prepare wooden blocks, each 40 cm high.A cut should be made at the ends of the boards intended for assembling the frame at an angle of 45 °.

Before proceeding with the assembly of the frame, the wooden elements should be treated with a special impregnation or antiseptic to stop the decay processes and prevent rapid deterioration of the material, which can be caused by exposure to moisture. On the outside, the boards can be painted or varnished. 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 for two levels, each of the tiers is fastened with bars.

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

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

Helpful advice! To protect the planting from moles and rodents, it is recommended to nail the net to the bottom. 

How to fill a do-it-yourself high bed of boards 

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

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

Planting density in a high bed is twice that of a regular bed

After the bed is full, it should be watered abundantly and allowed to brew for 2-3 days so that all layers can settle. It is not recommended to immediately start sowing or planting seedlings. It is better to keep the garden bed for a while, so that it has time to warm up well. To do this, cover the structure with black material. Polyethylene will do.

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

Making vertical beds with your own hands: photos and technologies 

Vertical beds are used to grow spices and berries. The advantages of such designs are associated with decorative appearance, space saving and crop protection from birds and various pests.

Warm tall beds accelerate plant growth, as the soil warms up better and seedlings can be planted earlier

Warm tall beds accelerate plant growth, 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 independently, but also buy ready-made vertical beds 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 is their compact size. Moreover, this advantage of the products will be beneficial not only to the owners of small summer cottages, but also to people who want to grow herbs or berries on their balconies. A light bed made from plastic bottles is best suited for this purpose.

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

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

Vertical beds are easy to maintain. The plantings are at a sufficient height so that it is possible to carry out weeding or harvesting in convenient conditions. This does not require bending low and enduring back pain. At the same time, the plants and their roots are raised high above the ground, where rodents and small pests cannot reach. The pyramidal or cylinder beds prevent birds from landing comfortably to eat the berries.

Prices for finished structures:

product name price, rub.
A bed of agrotextile 150
Bed made of plastic mesh 490
Hole pipe 1500
Hole pipe 3200
Vertical ladder 4700

Making a pyramid bed for strawberries with your own hands: sizes and technology

To work you will need the following tools and materials:

  • jigsaw or hacksaw;
  • edged board measuring 40 × 5 × 20 cm (11 pcs.);

 

A vertical bed is the ideal solution for a small home garden

A vertical bed is the ideal solution for a small home garden

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

To create the base, 4 support boards are used. For their manufacture, you can cut a board 2 m long. It is recommended to make cuts at an acute angle, so that later it would be convenient to join the pieces.

Helpful advice! To increase the rigidity of the structure, an additional pillar should be installed in the central part of the pyramidal bed, which serves as a support.

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

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

After that, a pair of 2 m long boards with a corner cut along the edges are 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, using a tape measure, the length of the laths intended for the manufacture of beds is measured. They should be placed in increments of 25-30 cm. To fix the rails, 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. Products can be successfully used for the cultivation of vegetables and herbs.

Strawberries have shallow roots and are very easy to grow in pots

Strawberries have shallow roots and are very easy to grow in pots

Manufacturing technology of vertical beds for strawberries from plastic pipes 

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

List of required tools and materials:

  • plastic pipes 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 designed for sewerage or drainage systems

Strawberries can be grown in plastic pipes designed for sewerage or drainage systems

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 product is cut along. To fix the bed in an upright position, holes should be made on both sides of each of the halves. A steel cable or thick line is passed through them. The halves are placed one above the other like a ladder. The number of such half-levels can be unlimited.

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

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

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

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

Small mesh gardens are ideal for growing strawberries, flowers, herbs or potatoes. For work you will need:

  • construction metal mesh;
  • the soil;
  • straw;
  • a tool for cutting metal wire.
Vertical cucumber bed built with a net

Vertical cucumber bed built with a net

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

If potatoes are to be grown, the first plant level should be 50 cm above the ground. About 10 cm should be left between the crops. After that, the first layer is shed, 50 cm of soil is laid again and the plants are planted. The tower bed can be of any height. To give the vertical bed a more attractive appearance, you can use black plastic instead of straw.

 So that the fruits are large, you need to thin the strawberries, leaving up to 40 centimeters between the rows

So that the fruits are 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 used successfully for growing strawberries. Such designs have a decorative appearance. For work, clay or plastic products are suitable. As a result, the design is 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 placed 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.

Potted strawberries need to be fertilized every two weeks

Potted strawberries need to be fertilized every two weeks

The next option is made on the basis of pots of the same diameter. Only one of them should be large. It will be installed at the very base of the structure. Place a metal rod or wooden stick inside a large pot.

Note! The size of the rod must be chosen so that its diameter is slightly less than the diameter of the hole located at the base of the pot.

A garden with high beds can look beautiful, comfortable and generous with a harvest.

A garden with high beds can look beautiful, comfortable and generous with a harvest.

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

If the site has a tall stump or post, the pots can be fixed to it. In no case should you do this on a living tree. Products are fixed around the circumference in any order. The spiral looks beautiful from the side. You can also use the staggered potting technique. The only drawback of this bed is the inconvenient watering system.

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

The car tire tower is made in the same way as the flower pot structure. 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 build new ones from other tires.

If there are old car tires left, then you can use them for vertical cultivation of strawberries.

If there are old car tires left, then you can use them for vertical cultivation of strawberries.

Before starting work, car tires need to be prepared:

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

After that, the largest tire should be laid on one side. On the other hand, the side part with the hole for the disc is cut off. The finished element is filled with soil and planted with plants. You should do the same with other tires and install them one on top of the other so that the size of each next one is less than the size of the previous one.

To make the tires more attractive, just paint them over.

To make the tires more attractive, just paint them over.

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

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

Plants will look great on a bed made from a bag. Such a structure can be conveniently placed on a fence, a wall of a gazebo, a house, a shed or any other stationary building. For work, you need a bag made of plastic or natural fabric. Burlap is much better in an operational sense. It is environmentally friendly and, unlike plastic, is reusable. The fact is that artificial materials are subject to 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

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 good permeability, allowing air to reach the plants. To prevent the bottom and sides of the bag from breaking through under the influence of gravity over time, it is recommended to sew them several times. A loop is made at the top of the product for hanging. On one side of the bag, holes are made for planting plants. After that, the bed can be filled with earth and planting.

Multi-tiered structures can be made from 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 post.

Original vertical bed from an old table

Original vertical bed from an old table

Helpful advice! To create a bed, you can use an old chest of drawers by pulling forward its drawers and filling them with earth. For these purposes, other unnecessary furniture is also suitable.  

Recommendations for creating vertical strawberry beds 

Before you start making a garden, it is useful to take into account some tips for the optimal construction of structures:

  • if the bed is large, the assembly must be carried out right at the place of its installation, otherwise problems with transportation may arise, during which the product can be damaged;
Growing strawberries in a barrel using the vertical bed method

Growing strawberries in a barrel using the vertical bed method

  • 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 structure can be located near the kitchen;
  • the soil for filling the beds should be prepared in advance. For berries, sandy loam soil is suitable, with an admixture of peat, fertilizer and hydrogel. The over-melted compost is optimal as a feed;
  • in advance you need to think over a system that will protect the beds from frost in the winter. Whether the structure will hide or be brought into the room;
  • it is recommended to place the garden closer to the water source, so that it is more convenient to regularly water the plants.
Excellent compact vertical beds made of old pallets and burlap

Excellent compact vertical beds made of old pallets and burlap

Note! The construction of vertical cucumber beds 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 garden bed should be supplemented with supports to which the plants will cling. 

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

A vertical cucumber bed can be presented in various designs. Most often, bags or plastic products are used to grow these crops. The walls of buildings, nets or shields, as well as all kinds of partitions can serve as a surface for fixing the beds. A do-it-yourself vertical cucumber bed can be arranged inside a plastic pipe. Such a product closes on one side and is suspended vertically on the crossbars.

Tall beds help accelerate fruit ripening, thereby increasing yields

Tall beds help accelerate fruit ripening, thereby increasing yields

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

With the help of thick fishing line, you need to walk in a circle, forming a vertical base to secure the 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 is bags or canvas bags.

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

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

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