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 to build a raised bed.
Natural stone has been used for walls and buildings for thousands of years. More and more patios and walkways made of this robust material can also be found in the garden. But bed borders and raised beds can also be designed with natural stone. In this article you will learn how to build a natural stone raised bed yourself.
Raised bed made of natural stone: advantages
Stone raised beds are very durable, weatherproof and not easily damaged. But which stones are suitable for a raised bed? There are hardly any limits to the design of raised beds made of natural stone, because numerous types of stone with their individual properties and colors are suitable for this. In addition to coarse-pored tuff, dark-grey bas alt, grey-whitish limestone and extremely hard, shiny granite, the ocher-colored, light-colored 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, which benefits pre- and post-cultures. In addition, the stones insulate against the cold and can thus effectively protect plant roots from brief frost episodes.
The natural stone wall as a raised bed border not only brings advantages in terms of heat storage for the plants in it. Numerous animals, such as lizards and insects, also find shelter in the cracks in the wall. The joints can also be planted and can optically loosen up the often bulky natural stones and add splashes of color. Robust rock garden plants are particularly suitable for this.
Advantages of natural stone raised beds at a glance:
- Very durable, robust and weatherproof
- Individual design thanks to a large selection of stone types
- Heat storage and release to the environment
- Insulation and frost protection in spring and autumn
- Habitat for plants and animals in cavities andJoints
Build your own raised bed made of natural stone
Some experience with stone construction methods and the appropriate tools - i.e. rubber mallet, spirit level, stone cutter, vibrating machine or roller and spatula - are the prerequisites for the successful construction of a raised bed. If you are unsure of your skills, you should better hire an experienced garden and landscaping builder or bricklayer.
Before building the natural stone raised bed, the subsoil must be prepared. Stone walls are heavy, a good foundation under the base of the raised bed prevents sinking and provides more stability. Massive raised beds with large stones should have a concrete foundation. For most raised beds, however, a foundation made of compacted chippings or fine gravel is suitable. On slopes, however, concrete usually has to be used to ensure sufficient stability. The foundation for a raised bed made of natural stone measuring 140 x 70 x 80 cm should be about 60 cm deep - this must be adjusted depending on size and weight. First, dig the trench for the foundation, fill in gravel and compact it with a shaker. Repeat backfilling and compacting until the pit is filled. Now build up a layer of sand about 10 cm high, which you in turn compact and straighten.
Draw the outline of the future bed precisely or stretch out guide lines. Now it's time for the first row of walls. Lay the bricks, straighten and fix them with a rubber mallet. After the first row, check again carefully with a spirit level whether the stones are straight, because a slope in the first row later runs up through the wall. Once everything has been straightened out, it's time to continue building your natural stone raised bed. Depending on the type of construction - with mortar or as a dry wall - layer and wedge the stones until the raised bed has reached the desired height.
At a glance: Instructions for a natural stone raised bed
- Select location, mark size and dig deep ditch depending on raised bed size.
- Fill in and compact the foundation made of chippings. In the case of slopes: embedding in concrete is essential. Approx. Add 10 cm leveling layer of sand and compact.
- Mark out the area exactly, possibly withTighten the lines.
- Place stones in the first row, check carefully with a spirit level.
- Continue wall construction, dry layered or with mortar, depending on the construction method.
Fill the natural stone raised bed correctly
If the natural stone raised bed is stable, you can start filling it. A lining with knobbed foil protects dry stone walls from soil erosion and the stone from moisture and frost cracks. A close-meshed vole grid is often useful for raised beds on topsoil.
Filling is traditionally done from bottom to top with coarse to fine material. While branches, wood chips and leaves are filled in below, a layer of compost is followed by the potting soil in which the future cultures will take root. Our Plantura organic compost, produced in Germany, is ideal as a second layer in the raised bed under the plant layer. Due to the high compost content, it promotes soil life and humus formation. You can find out exactly what materials the raised bed layers are made of and what function they fulfill in our special article.
A natural stone wall is much more robust than building kits, but it is also very time-consuming. If you are looking for a faster way, you will find it in our article "Create a raised bed in 10 minutes".