How to fill raised garden or vegetable beds?

It is easy to make raised garden beds but it is hard to fill them with dirt.  If you are making 8 ft x 4 ft x 1 ft bed you need 34 cu ft of dirt or soil.  It not only cost you money plus it is hard labor as you have to haul this dirt in to the bed.  Best way is make the beds in fall and fill them with biodegradable material so that the material can decay through the winter.

If you have time then you can fill these beds with shredded leaves, garden clippings.  You can add kitchen waste (no cooked food, meat, fish).  Cover these with shredded leaves.  This will keep critters away.  Check out my other posting 'make compost'.

Keep adding the stuff as stuff settle downs as it compost.  Keep the shredded material moist and do not make it soggy.  Cover it so that rain does not mess the material and let it work through winter.  Once a while after week or so mix the material with garden fork.  This will speed up the process.

Raised Vegetable Garden Beds.

I am planning to put some raised vegetable garden beds. Should I build them or buy something and assemble it. It is start of winter. I am planning build one now and fill it with yard clipping and mulch and let it sit for winter.

I am looking for some pre-built raised vegetable garden beds.

Here are some options


1. Cedar Looks 4' X 6' Raised Bed Planter

 Cedar Looks 4' X 6' Raised Bed Planter

Most gardeners agree that raised beds are easier to maintain and promote better plant growth. Naturally resistant to rot and insects, cedar is a smart and worry-free alternative to other treated woods.

2. Cedar Looks 4' X 4' Raised Bed Planter

Cedar Looks 4' X 4' Raised Bed Planter

Another one at Amazon is little bit cheaper.

UL-T-MATE 3X3EP 3- by 3-Foot by 10-Inch High Natural Wood Grain Composite Raised Bed Garden Planter Kit with Embossed Finish, Light Brown Cedar.

Attractive raised bed garden planter, durable composite sides with a natural wood grain-embossed finish. Will not rot, decay, splinter, rust, leach, mold or mildew. Resistant to weathering, lawn and garden chemicals, and fertilizer. Economical 3-Foot x 3-Foot x 1-Inch design.� Easy to put together, no fasteners required. Includes naturally-occurring and reclaimed materials. Recyclable material. Light Cedar Brown.

The raised bed gardening trend is blooming all over America. It's the modern way to grow beautiful flowers and raise fresh vegetables. Extend your growing season - use less space, water, fertilizer, and improve soil conditions. You can join this back to nature trend with a contemporary twist, when you order the Orcaboard Lifetime Raised Bed Garden Kit from Durable Plastic Design.

• Extend your growing season - use less space, water, fertilizer, and improve soil conditions.
• The Orcaboard Lifetime Raised Bed Garden Kit is maintenance free, and non-toxic.
• Conveniently packaged for UPS delivery and assembles in less than 10 minutes.
• The Orcaboard Lifetime Raised Bed Garden Kit is available in two standard sizes - 4x4 & 4x8.
• Standard depth is 11"; Top Rail is OPTIONAL and is not included.

8 x 4' Two-Tier Raised Bed Kit with Canopy. Made of maintenance-free, recycled plastic, our Raised Bed Kit has lightweight boards that lock together with ease - no tools required! - to form a sturdy border for your one- or two-tier raised bed. Double-skinned walls provide thermal insulation, which helps to maintain a stable growing temperature. Sizes Raised Bed Kit 4' x 4' Two-Tier Kit 8' x 4'