Raised Gardens

A fresh way to grow a bumper crop

- Tom Dvorak

Accessorize It! Easy Add-on Options:

1 SCREEN OUT CRITTERS. Simple arched ribs made from CPVC pipe let you protect your crop from hungry birds and beasts, especially deer!

2 EXTEND THE SEASON. Those same ribs can support plastic sheathing. This creates a “cold frame,” allowing you to start plants earlier in spring and protect them against frost in autumn.

3 WATER ONCE A MONTH. Fill a buried reservoir that keeps soil moist for weeks. For details on how to add this feature to any raised planter, search for “self watering” at familyhandyman.com.

Some gardeners prefer traditional ground level gardening, but not the ones we’ve been hearing from in recent years. Those who’ve made the switch love raised garden planters and won’t go back.

The list of reasons is long, but these are the main advantages:

Tending raised plants is a lot easier on the back and knees.

You can fill planters with top-quality soil for more productivity in a smaller space.

Raised beds curtail creeping weeds and drifting seeds.

The height discourages pests, especially rabbits.

To build on these advantages, we designed our own raised planter. On the outside, it looks a lot like others. But we engineered ours for longevity and simple construction. And we added some optional improvements to make an even better home for your vegetables.

Gathering materials