Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Garden

How to install a raised herb garden bed

A practical and good-looking solution for growing herbs. - by Graham Ross
  • 04 Sep 2020

A few herbs growing inside a makeshift brick bed doesn’t do justice to the joy and flavour they add to your home cooking.

Save your back, care for your knees and add elevation to your garden by putting your herb and vegetable garden in a raised bed.

Then plucking condiments fresh from your garden for lunch or dinner will be so much easier and more enjoyable.

WATCH: Graham shows Rose how to install a raised herb garden

Gather your supplies

  • Ready-made raised garden bed in size to suit your garden and needs
  • Gravel
  • Scoria or clay pebbles
  • Geotextile fabric
  • Quality vegetable potting mix
  • Wide and rigid wire mesh
  • Wire mesh ties
  • Assortment of seedlings
  • Lucerne or pea straw mulch

You’ll also need

Heavy duty leather gloves; shovel; bucket; metal rake; kitchen or garden scissors; pliers; trowel.

Before herb garden bed

Before: a straggly make-shift brick bed

For you to know

You don’t need to fill all of your raised garden bed with potting mix. This can be expensive. You only need about 30cm of a growing medium for successful vegetable gardening. Layer gravel on the bottom suppresses grass, and scoria or clay pebbles add height. Then top with growing medium. 

Here's how

Step 1

Remove bricks

Remove bricks from border of existing bed. 

Step 2

Dig out herbs

Dig out herbs and roots, and put those your wish to keep in a bucket of water. 

Step 3

Remove turf

Remove turf, if needed, to increase area for the raised garden bed. Position ready-made bed on the ground. 

Step 4

Fill base of raised bed with gravel

Fill base of raised bed with a shallow layer of free-draining gravel, then top with clay pebbles or scoria to 40-45cm from top.

Step 5

Cover with geotextile fabric

Cover with geotextile fabric cut to fit to help prevent growing medium falling through.

Step 6

Fill with quality vegetable-growing medium to 10-15cm from top.

Step 7

Place wire mesh on bed

Place wire mesh at the rear of the bed.

Step 8

Join mesh pieces

Join mesh pieces with mire mesh ties. 

Step 9

Plant herbs

Plant seedlings, leaving enough space for their mature size. Water in.

Step 10

Spread mulch

Spread mulch over garden beds to help prevent weeds and water evaporation. 

Growing tip

Raised herb garden bed

Garden soil isn't suitable for cultivating vegies. A raised bed lets you use a growing medium full of nutrients and has good drainage. 

Garden bed shopping tip

Raised herb garden bed

The final look! Plant climbers at the base of the mesh to start training them

Raised garden beds are a terrific alternative to the in-ground variety, as they can help reduce back strain while you tend to your plot. Search the internet for quality corrugated, galvanised Bluescope steel and Colorbond garden beds. Choose from a range of Colorbond colours, and a variety of shapes and heights. Available, ready-made, there are also suppliers who can customise to your specifications.

You might also like:

How to make timber raised garden beds

5 best raised planter boxes for your garden

How to build a raised vegie garden with recycled timber pallets

  • Food
  • Garden
  • TV
  • Backyard Ideas
  • Front Garden Ideas
Graham Ross
Graham Ross
Radio broadcaster and television gardening presenter, Graham Ross, has educated, entertained and inspired Australia’s gardening community and aspiring green thumbs during a career that has spanned more than 50 years.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Graham visits Wild Meadows garden

Graham visits Wild Meadows garden

Graham visits Breenhold Gardens

Graham visits Breenhold Gardens

Graham visits Windyridge garden

Graham visits Windyridge garden

Graham visits Ewanrigg Garden

Graham visits Ewanrigg Garden

{headline}

{headline}

Joh and Graham meet The Garden Curator

Joh and Graham meet The Garden Curator

How to make a botanical herb garden

How to make a botanical herb garden

Graham visits Hillandale gardens

Graham visits Hillandale gardens

{headline}

{headline}

Joh and Graham visit Hartvale gardens

Joh and Graham visit Hartvale gardens

Graham Ross visits Elizabeth’s small garden

Graham Ross visits Elizabeth’s small garden

How to make a vertical herb garden

How to make a vertical herb garden

Graham visits a tropical garden

Graham visits a tropical garden

3 gardening projects you can do in a weekend

3 gardening projects you can do in a weekend

How to make a hexagon wall planter

How to make a hexagon wall planter

Graham visits the Illawarra Grevillea Park

Graham visits the Illawarra Grevillea Park

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription