How to Make a Sturdy Raised Bed
by the3dclub on Nov 02, 2009 with 1 Comments
This short guide will teach you how to build yourself a modern, stylish flower bed, raised 35-40cm above ground level. The step-by-step guide tells you how to dig-up and level the ground, lay the bricks in a cement base, plaster the outside smooth and lay wood along the top to give the bed a stylish, decorative finish.
- Start off by choosing the area where you want the riased bed to go. This area is ideal in sunlight for most of the day to best show off your construction! Once this area is found spray some layout marker paint or put string down to show the layout.
- Dig out this area 12-15cm deep, don’t worry if this is’nt too level at this stage as gravel will do this for you. With a spade about the width of a breeze block, dig a further 5cm down all the way round the inside edge of the current area.
- Spread a 2-3cm thick layer of gravel over the entire dug out area, and spread evenly with a rake. You should now have an area about 7 or 8cm deep, with a gutter around the edge measuring a little over 10cm deep. It is now time to lay some bricks!
- Go shopping for breeze blocks (the big grey ones!), make sure you have enough to lay the first layer of blocks at least), also get some easy-mix cement. Once you have these mix up some cement until the consistency is “sloppy”, but not wet. When the mix is ready, lay some in the gutter, enough to easily lay 2 bricks horizontally, lay the bricks on top of this mix and level with a rubber mallet, get some cement mixture in between the bricks aswell so they stick to each other.
- Continue mixing and laying bricks all the way round the bed ensuring they are level, if you need a curve in the bed simply lay the bricks on their end and gently sweep the bricks round. Once this base layer is finished repeat the previous 2 steps and lay another layer on top, with cement underneath and in between bricks. If you have a curve the 2nd layer of bricks should stand at the same height as the bricks on their end.
- Now you should see what your raised flower bed will look like once finished. Leave this for a few days to completely set then you can start plastering. Get some masonery plaster and follow instructions to mix. You will also need a plastering trowel to apply the plaster, simply mix it up, scoop some onto the tool, and spread over the bricks you layed earlier. After the first few scoops you should get the hang of it, try on a flat area of blocks to start with and once you have the hang of it move round on to the curved part; ensure the plaster goes all the way to the bottom of the bed on the outside, over the top, and half way down on the inside.
- Leave this plaster to set for 2 days and then paint white, or your desired color, using outside wall paint; apply a second coat after a few hours. The next step is optional but i think it finishes the bed perfectly!
- Get down to your local timber yard and get enough wood to lay across the top of your bed, I go for wood about 3cm thick and a little wider than the bricks to give a nice overlap effect. Cut the wood out leaving diagonals at the ends to create a nicer effect, on the curve just cut smaller pieces and link them together. Once all the wood is cut out, lay them all on the bed.
- Drill through the wood and into the top of the bricks, on a short piece use 2 holes, a larger piece may take 3 or 4. Place screw plugs in the holes, line the wood up back on top and screw it down! Simple! Repeat this process with all the pieces of wood and guess what, your finished!
- Admire your handywork! (now get someone else to fill it with compost and plants!)
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Published in: Do-It-Yourself
merchantsolutionsllc | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
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