Garden Bed Calculators
Planning a new bed or border? Calculate soil to fill raised beds, with mix recipes and settling allowance, and the exact length of edging to finish it neatly.
Building a raised bed: the order of work
- Choose a sunny, level spot and decide the size, 4 ft (1.2 m) wide is easy to reach across.
- Calculate soil with the Raised Bed Soil Calculator, including a 10 to 20% settling allowance.
- Loosen the ground underneath so roots and water can move down.
- Fill, water to settle, top up, then plant.
- Edge surrounding beds and lawn with the help of the Garden Edging Calculator.
FAQ
Common questions
How deep should a raised bed be?
10 to 12 inches suits most vegetables; 6 to 8 inches works for salad greens and herbs.
Should raised beds have a bottom?
Beds on soil are usually left open so roots can go deeper and water drains freely. A wire mesh base can deter burrowing animals.
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