Raised beds that are made of natural stone and rocks have a unique appearance along with many benefits for the plants that grow in them. We demonstrate how stone may be used to build a raised garden bed.
For thousands of years, natural stone has been utilized to build walls and in construction. This hardy material is also being used to build terraces and walkways in the garden. Stones and rocks can, however, be used to create bed edging or raised garden beds. This post will teach you how to make your own stone raised garden bed.
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Build Your Own DIY Raised Garden Bed Using Stone
For the effective building of a raised bed with stones and rock, some familiarity with stone construction techniques and the necessary tools – such as a rubber mallet, a stone cutter, spirit level, a vibrating machine or roller, and a shovel – are required. If you are skeptical about your abilities, it is best to contact a professional gardener or mason.
Instructions to Make a Stone Raised Garden Bed
- Choose a location, mark the size, and dig a deep hole based on the size of the raised bed.
- Fill in the layer of chippings and compact it. Maintain required slope inclination.
- As a leveling layer, pour and compact around 10 cm of sand.
- Mark out the area precisely, and if necessary, tension with straightening wires.
- Place the first row of bricks and use a spirit level to ensure that they are perfectly level.
- Continue building the wall, either dry layered or with mortar, depending on the style of construction.
You must first prepare the land before beginning to build the stone raised bed. Stone walls are heavy, so a sturdy foundation underneath the base of the raised garden bed not only prevents sinking but also adds stability.
A concrete base should be used for big raised garden beds with huge stones. However, for most raised garden beds, a foundation of compacted chippings or fine gravel is adequate. However, on slopes, concrete is frequently required to give adequate stability.
The base for a raised bed built of natural stone measuring 150 x 75 x 90 centimeters should be roughly 60 cm deep – this must be adjusted depending on size and weight. First, excavate the foundation trench, then fill it with gravel and compact it all using a shaker.
Filling and compacting should be repeated until the pit is completely filled. Now, pile up a layer of sand around 10 centimeters high and compact and straighten it again.
Draw the exact perimeter of the upcoming bed or extend straightedges. Continue to the first row of walls. With a rubber mallet, lay the stones and straighten and consolidate them. Check the stones’ straightness with a spirit level again after the first row, since a slope in the first row will eventually continue up through the wall.
Once everything is in order, you can begin constructing your stone raised bed. Layer and wedge the rocks until the raised garden bed reaches the specified height, based on the construction method (mortar or drywall) used.
Filling the Stone Raised Bed in Your Garden
Once the stone raised garden bed is securely built, you may begin filling it. A bubble wrap lining protects dry stone walls against soil runoff, moisture as well as frost cracking. In raised garden beds on topsoil, a close-meshed mole grid is very useful to avoid moles from damaging your garden bed.
Traditionally, the filling is performed from the bottom up using coarse to fine material. While the bottom is filled up with branches, wood chips, and leaves, a layer of composting material is followed at the top by the planting soil where the future plants will take root.
Organic compost is perfect for use as a second layer beneath the planting layer in a raised garden bed. Because of its high compost content, it supports soil life and humus development. In our special post, you can understand exactly what raised garden bed layers are comprised of and what purpose they serve.
Benefits of a Raised Bed Made of Stones
Stone raised garden beds have a long lifespan, are waterproof, and are not readily destroyed.
On bright days, stones retain heat and slowly release it to their surroundings during the night. The soil in the bed keeps warm longer in the spring and fall, benefiting pre- and post-crops. Furthermore, the stones insulate the garden bed against cold, successfully protecting plant roots from brief frost occurrences.
The stone wall when built as a raised garden bed edging has benefits other than heat storage for the plants in it. Many species, including lizards and insects, seek refuge in the gaps in the wall. The joints can also be planted, visually softening and adding color to the typically bulky-looking stones. Plants that are especially hardy in the rock garden are ideal for this purpose.
Advantages of Stone Raised Garden Bed
- Extremely long-lasting, strong, and weatherproof.
- Individual design options are available through a wide range of stone varieties.
- Heat storage and dissipation into the environment.
- In the spring and autumn, they help with insulation as well as frost protection.
- Plant and animal habitat in cavities and cracks.
Which stones are appropriate for building a raised garden bed?
The design and layout options of raised garden beds built of stones are nearly limitless, because many different types of stone, each with its own unique qualities and colorings, are ideal for this purpose. Aside from coarse-pored tuff, dark grey basalt, grayish-white limestone, and highly hard, polished granite, light sandstone are also appropriate for such raised garden beds.