Hey everyone! I'm a first-time gardener and really excited to start my journey with tomatoes and summer squash here in California. I'm wondering if I should buy a raised bed or build one myself? What do you all recommend? Any tips would be super helpful since I'm pretty new to all of this – I've just read a bit online and checked the seed packages. Thanks in advance for your advice!
3 Answers
I have a mix of nine metal raised beds and a big wooden one I built myself. They both work well, but the metal beds come in limited sizes. With wood, you can really customize to whatever dimensions you want - my wooden bed is a massive 4x20 feet!
Building your own raised beds can save you some cash, depending on your materials. I put together a couple of 4'x8' beds using 2x10 lumber for about $45 each. If you’re more into buying, metal beds are available on Amazon for around $30, but I personally prefer wood because it’s easier to customize later on.
You don't actually need raised beds or bought soil to start gardening! It's worth giving your native soil a shot as well. Just remember that manufactured soil isn't always a miracle solution, so be sure to amend it with the right nutrients if you go that route.
Totally agree! I've had both types and while metal is neat, you can't beat the flexibility of wood.