How To Remove Raised Beds From A Garden [Step-By-Step Guide]

evoke bed can be a great agency to add structure and order to your garden that often seems permanent . However , if you need to remove them , there is a way to do it . We ’ve done the research and are sharing a step - by - step templet to quickly and easy removing raised seam from a garden . So , let ’s get part !

To remove a farm layer from a garden , come after these footfall :

remove a raised bottom is a simple task to accomplish , but it need some care and attention to item . So , to make certain you are completely set , we ’ve train an in - deepness guide for you . Keep reading and you ’ll learn everything you need to make out about removing a raised layer from a garden .

Removing Raised Beds From Garden

So you do n’t present any disruption as you hit your raised beds , check that you have everything you ’ll need before start .

1. Remove The Weeds And Other Plants

The first step is take away any plants presently raise in the raise bed . reckon on how long the bed has been fresh , you might find flowers , grass , herb , or weed growing there . Each one requires a slightly different removal approach , which we ’ll explicate here .

If the provoke seam was used lately , there might still be perennials growing there that you ’d like to keep or give away to a nurseryman friend .

To remove the plants , cautiously dig around the plants and avoid nicking the roots with your shovelful . check that to entrust some grease around the roots as well . Smaller plants can be planted in a container until you ’re quick to replant them , or wrap burlap around the origin of larger one .

Your raised bed might be full of grass if it ’s been there for a long time . However , you could remove it easy by cutting it into strips and loosening the roots from the dirt with a shovel or spade . Roll up each slice to remove , and either habituate them to re - turf parts of your yard or toss them in the compost .

If the raised bed has been abandon for a longsighted time , it ’s plausibly full of mourning band . To remove them without chemicals , start by using a pitchfork to loose the filth . Pull out as many weeds as you’re able to , and then use the excavator to wrick over the dirt and remove deeper roots .

2. Remove the Dirt

After all the plants are decease , it ’s time to remove the dirt . Start by using your pitchfork or a hoe to loosen the dirt so it can be removed more well . Then , using your spadeful , take up the dirt from the raised bed into a wheelbarrow or tarpaulin .

you may dispose of the dirt in a few dissimilar way . If it ’s still in good condition without too many beginning , you may reprocess it . For example , you could spare it to occupy in maw in your grounds , empower it to a gardening friend , or donate it to a biotic community garden .

3. Remove the Boards

Your raised bed should now await like a big empty boxwood . It ’s now time to dismantle it ! The side of wooden raised beds are often harbor in topographic point by wooden PIN stuck vertically into the ground . If your bring up seam has these pins , use your crowbar to loose them enough so you’re able to take out them out of the flat coat .

After all of the wooden pin have been removed , it ’s time to take asunder the corner . Determine if it ’s held in place by nails or screw , and then use either the back of a pounding or a screwdriver to remove them .

If the boards are in good condition , you could save them to reuse for another project . Otherwise , you may add them to your compost or burn pile .

If your raised bottom is made from a different material , such as metal , your dismantle procedure is a little act dissimilar . For a metal raised seam , strain prying it apart at the joins with your crowbar . If this does n’t work , use alloy shear to cut the sides open . Just be very heedful , as the raw alloy edges will be very sharp-worded !

4. Amend The Soil

Now , all you ’ll have left is a large , empty rectangle of soil . Stir up the land with your pitchfork , and then utilise the power shovel to become it over . When you ’re cease , you should have loose soil at least 6 inches mysterious . At this item , you have the selection to quiz your soil ’s pH levels . Doing this is a good idea if you ’re planning to use the space for new plant . That way , you could amend the soil free-base on your plant ’s need .

Luster Leaf ’s Rapitest Soil Test Kit is a great selection for take a fast , precise reading .

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or else , you’re able to judge SONKIR ’s pick - style Moisture / Light / pH Tester .

Now , open at least 2 to 3 inch of compost evenly over the territory . No matter your dirt ’s pH level , compostis an unbelievable fashion to add food to your garden . Work it equally through the loose soil . You could also consider adding perlite at this stage if your soil needs surplus drainage .

Finally , add fertiliser . 5 - 10 - 10 is a good banner for general grease and planting needs . Otherwise , you’re able to pick out fertilizer based on the results of your dirt pH test and the need of the plants you ’d like to grow .

Check out our articleCan You Sprinkle Fertilizer On Top Of Soil?to hear more about the specifics of fertilizer and its utilisation .

5. Plant The Space

Last of all , you ’ll want to add plants to the space formerly occupied by your raised layer . If you ’d like to change it into a traditional garden bed , follow the procedure for planting whatever you ’re design to grow . Typically , this stand for planting in spring or in early fall if you ’re plant bulb .

However , if you ’re planning to blend in the former garden bed into the rest of your yard , you ’ll want to plant it with grass . If you ’re using one of the popular coolheaded - season turfgrass multifariousness , you ’ll need to found in the drop . Warm - season varieties , on the other helping hand , should be planted in spring .

Our articleHow Long After till Can You Lay Sod Or Plant Grass?gives detailed directions on how to imbed grass , so check it out if you need more information .

If you need to let your former raised bed internet site eternal sleep for a few months before planting , it ’s a good idea to cover it with a tarpaulin or plastic sheet . That way , isolated come wo n’t grow and your lawn wo n’t creep into the space .

What Is The Best Season To Remove Raised Garden Beds?

Unless the ground is icy , you could remove a raised bed in any season . However , your best bets are former springtime mightily after the last frost or former summer just before the time of year change . It all depend on how you be after to use the blank .

For instance , if you remove the bed in early natural spring , you ’ll be able-bodied to immediately implant with either novel garden selections or strong - time of year turfgrass . On the other deal , if you remove the bed in late summer , it give you enough time to amend the grunge before plant it with cool - season turfgrass or bulbs .

In Closing

Although people often call up that raised bed are a permanent garden lineament , they can actually be removed with minimal trouble . Whatever your intellect for removing the bed , just come after the steps we outline above .

We hope that this templet help you remove your unnecessary raised bottom and transform your garden into a more beautiful , useful blank .