A raised bed made of natural stone has a very special look and advantages for the plants in it. We explain how natural stone can be used in the construction of a raised bed.
Natural stone has been used for walls and structures for millennia. In the garden, too, you can find more and more terraces and sidewalks made of this robust material. But bed borders and raised beds can also be designed with natural stone. In this article you will learn how you can build a natural stone raised bed yourself.
contents
- Raised bed made of natural stone: advantages
- Build a raised bed yourself from natural stone
- Fill the natural stone raised bed correctly
Raised bed made of natural stone: advantages
Raised beds made of stone have a very long shelf life, they are weatherproof and not easy to damage. But which stones are suitable for a raised bed? There are hardly any limits to the design of raised beds made of natural stone, as numerous types of stone with their individual properties and colors are ideal for this. In addition to coarse-pored tuff, dark gray basalt, gray-whitish limestone and extremely hard, shiny granite stone, the ocher-colored, light sandstone is also suitable for raised beds.
Stones store heat on sunny days and slowly release it into their surroundings at night. Especially in spring and autumn, the soil in the bed stays warm longer, from which pre- and post-crops benefit. In addition, the stones insulate against the cold and can thus effectively protect plant roots from short frost episodes.
The natural stone wall as a raised bed border not only has advantages in terms of heat storage for the plants in it. Numerous animals such as lizards and insects find shelter in the cracks in the wall. The joints can also be planted and can visually loosen up the often bulky natural stones and add splashes of color. Robust ones are particularly suitable for this Rock garden plants.
Advantages of natural stone raised beds at a glance:
- Very long-lasting, robust and weatherproof
- Individual design through a large selection of rock types
- Heat storage and release to the environment
- Insulation and frost protection in spring and autumn
- Habitat for plants and animals in cavities and joints
Build a raised bed yourself from natural stone
Some experience with stone construction methods and the corresponding tools - i.e. rubber hammer, spirit level, Stone cutter, vibrating machine or roller and spatula - are the prerequisites for the successful construction of one Raised beds. If you are unsure of your skills, it is better to hire an experienced landscaping builder or bricklayer.
Before starting the construction of the natural stone raised bed, the subsurface must be prepared. Walls made of stone are very heavy, a good foundation under the base of the raised bed prevents it from sinking and provides more stability. Solid raised beds with large stones should have a concrete foundation. For most raised beds, however, a foundation made of compacted gravel or fine gravel is suitable. However, concreting usually has to be carried out on slopes in order to guarantee sufficient stability. The foundation for a raised bed made of natural stone with the dimensions 140 x 70 x 80 cm should be around 60 cm deep - this must be adjusted depending on the size and weight. First, dig the trench for the foundation, fill in crushed stone and compact it with a shaker. Repeat backfilling and compacting until the pit is filled. Now build a layer of sand about 10 cm high, which you then compact and straighten.
Draw the exact outline of the future bed or stretch guidelines. Now it goes to the first row of walls. Place the stones, straighten and firm them with a rubber mallet. After the first row, carefully check again with a spirit level whether the stones are straight, because a slope in the first row will later extend up through the wall. Once everything has been straightened, you can continue building your natural stone raised bed. Depending on the construction method - with mortar or as a drywall - layers and wedge the stones until the raised bed has reached the desired height.
At a glance: Instructions for a raised bed made of natural stone
- Select the location, mark the size and dig deep trenches depending on the size of the raised bed.
- Fill in the foundation made of gravel and compact. In the case of a slope: embedding in concrete is imperative.
- Pour approx. 10 cm leveling layer of sand and compact.
- Stake out the area precisely, possibly stretch with ropes.
- Place the first row of stones, check exactly with a spirit level.
- Continue building the wall, layering dry or with mortar, depending on the construction method.
Fill the natural stone raised bed correctly
If the raised bed made of natural stone is stable, filling can be started. A lining with bubble wrap protects dry stone walls from earth washout and the stone from moisture and frost cracks. A close-meshed vole grid is often useful for raised beds on topsoil.
The filling is traditionally done from bottom to top with coarse to fine material. While branches, wood chips and leaves are poured in at the bottom, a layer of compost is followed by the potting soil in which the future crops will take root. Ours produced in Germany Plantura organic compost is ideal as a second layer in the raised bed under the planting layer. Due to the high compost content, it promotes soil life and humus formation. What materials are the Raised bed layers Exactly exist and what function they fulfill, you can find out in our special article.
A natural stone wall is much more robust compared to kits, but it is also very time-consuming. If you are looking for a faster option, our article "Create a raised bed in 10 minutes" find it.
