If you look on craigslist, you can usually find free cinder blocks. I have used them to make raised beds in the yard where the dogs were. Then I put a leftover PVC pipe sicking up in each corner and wrapped it with chicken wire that I could open on each end..

The least expensive method of building raised beds is to simply pile up the soil with no sides, just mound the soil. I would not make any raised bed wider then 4 feet, personal experience, because I made beds 6 feet wide originally and found after a time reaching the middle was harder to do than I wanted.

Agree with kimmsr. Raised beds don't have to be contained by anything so that is the cheapest way to go and would still solve the drain problem.

Framing them in won't solve the dog problem assuming he can jump 18" with ease like most dogs. Plus the filling and amendments for an 18" deep bed could get expensive.

Look into solving the real problem - dog access. Better fencing.

Dave

I'm beginning to agree with you dig dirt, my biggest problem is this though is the shape of the beds. Everything is curved. These are all old pictures as I don't typically take pics of my veggie garden, but it gives you an idea of the shape of the beds.. Mounding the rows can work if I get a more permanent fencing, even then my dog easily jumps my current 4' chain link fence if she wants to. I presently have welded wire fencing around all of the beds, but somehow my dog is able to weasel her way underneath or she squeezes through the sides. I'd love to do a picket fence with gates, but I'm not sure how to construct a fence with constantly curved lines. I wonder if those metal brackets that support the cross boards will bend? Now to learn another new project!

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The prime culprit on the left. Other than that, she's the best dog ever.

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Thanks calik, I was thinking about cinder blocks as well, but I'm looking for something as aesthetic as it is utilitarian. I would rather have something finished for whenever I sell the house, people will think, they have to clean up or do something with the veggie garden. My parent always try to tell me that my 3000 sq. feet of gardening space will deter buyers because of too much work. However, my houses have always sold quickly and because of the gardens.

I agree that it would be difficult if not impossible to find an asthetically pleasing fencing for your situation. But asthetics aside, if she can jump a chain link fence then nothing you put up is going to stop her.

Time for some dog training instead I fear - motion sensor water sprinklers or such, repellant sprays, zap-collars, etc. until she learns to stay out of those areas.

Dave

If the fence is wooden and you raise the bed -- and there is contact between the raised bed and the fence -- the fence will eventually rot.

Also, if you raise the bed containing the tree, then either you will have to raise the tree as well ... or the tree will decline and eventually die. Bark is not meant to be covered with soil (roots are a different matter).

A Canadian member named woodyoak designed her backyard with open, unplanted paths along all the fences -- because her dogs naturally patrol the fences, and nothing (including plants or shrubs) will stop them. Is that what your dog is doing?

Digdirt - if only it was that easy. She's been to obedience school, she'll never go in the beds if we're around, repellant products don't work, she loves water, and actually plays with and drinks from the sprinkler, and we can't use a zap collar because it would affect my son's pacemaker! The biggest problem is my boys hit the wiffle balls behind the fencing, take it down and don't put it back right, so to her it's an invitation to come on in.

Missing - that's why I like my original idea of multiple raised bed which would be placed perpendicular to the wooden fence with rows in between, and of course, I wouldn't raise the soil level around the existing trees and shrubs. She patrols the back fence but not with this side yard, she just likes to run and play with the kids and unless there is a fence, she doesn't care where the border is. I also had some trees back there which she turned into fetching sticks last winter. Pitties are sweet and playful, but not the brightest.

best solution i can see is to use block or brick , although not the cheapest it can if done right raise the home value and when faced with a veneer (if block ) or brick to match your house. Your dog looks alot like a pit i use to have and she would walk on top of my 6.5 foot block wall saying hi to everyone. So as far as the dog issues i have no ideas there determined.

Although it is probably not the cheapest way to go; I prefer using landscape blocks. They last longer and are more attactive. You can buy them on sale at reasonable rates. Here is one of my beds.