I Can't Decide: The Raised Bed Garden is Finshed!

I wanted to add onto the garden this year but the space I had available was covered in a foot of gravel road base. We decided it would be easier to just build garden beds on top instead of removing the gravel. So I designed a plan for the space, shared my wishes with my husband and he made it happen. It took us a month to get it finished. My dad helped while he was visiting.

The first few boxes going in.

When we were in Santa Fe we went to a garden pottery and furniture shop and I picked up this tortoise planter. He sits next to the sidewalk to greet you as you walk into the garden.

This was the original plan before I figured out what to do with the open space in front of the boxes. Each of the boxes are 6 foot square. When you read about building raised beds you will be instructed to make them no wider than 4 feet. I have wider beds in the rest of the garden so I was already comfortable working with larger beds and I didn't want to waste planting space to paths. We made the paths 3 feet wide.

I wanted some pretty places to plant flowers and here is one that we came up with. We had the birdbath already. I might place something else in the middle if I find the perfect feature.

Instead of using the top as a birdbath I planted it. The water evaporates too quickly here anyway.

My husband built an arbor and a bench for the front of the garden. We were trying to design the sides of the arbor when I suggested a heart and he liked that idea. It worked out well. I dug out a spot for a flower bed in the front corner. I have planted a ground cover rose and will add an evergreen and more flowers later.

The tree in front is a pecan.

He still has to build the other side. I will plant climbing roses next to the arbor with some clemantis. The two beds in front are 4X6 and will be planted with herbs.

I planted a rose in the bed behind the bench also. I will plant an evergreen shrub or something else for winter interest in both of these beds.

I found some pots at a yard sale so I added this little feature on the side of the garden. This gravel covered spot is between two pine trees. I plan to add short evergreen trees and shrubs later. We gathered a bunch of rocks to edge the gravel for a more finished look.

My dad brought those two seats back from Arkansas for me. They are a convenient height to sit in while weeding the raised beds. They used to be on a cultivator and are very comfie.

I was going to build three long boxes over here next year but decided to try growing sunflowers and squash in the soil this year. I think I will just try to improve the soil instead of building more boxes. I will use this space for growing corn, potatoes, and winter squash. It will be on a three year rotation with two more large beds I have in the rest of the garden.