Veggie garden design advice needed for backyard

last year

last modified: last year

This area of our backyard faces SW and gets the most sun. I've been planting heat loving veggies here so far, but in containers. I'm looking to have raised beds here, along the wall and the wooden fence. I plan to remove the current beds (brown wooden ones you see here) and do most of the myself as I have a limited budget. Here are some of the questions I have in mind:

- Is installing raised beds near the foundation a bad idea? Concerned about water damage.

- How do I go around the basement windows as the raised beds will be straight and square?

- I don't want to remove the pavers at the moment (will get them replaced perhaps next year). Can the beds be installed over the pavers, if they shouldn't be near the wall?

Any help with the design of this space is more than welcome. I'm really hoping I can turn this into a lovely space for growing food and our retreat.

Thank you for reading.

The raised beds I'm thinking will be similar to the one you see here to the right along the white garage wall.

I will move the bins from here to the garage (behind the bins).

Featured Answer

callirhoe123

last year

Can you post a picture of the entire area from further back so we can see the full layout>

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Comments (7)

R G
Original Author
last year
Added more photos :)
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
last year
last modified: last year
Foundation damage is unlikely, but note that mortar is quite permeable, so if you spray irrigate, and it soaks the wall, the water will penetrate. Of course, you should not use the foundation as a bed wall. Raised beds over pavers will warm up faster in the spring than over soil, but will make it a LOT harder to remove the pavers later. To the extent you'd eventually like to uncover the pavers, be aware the bed may permanently stain them. That's a good reason to remove and reserve them. I would keep the raised bed wall well separated from the house. Moisture trapped between the house and the bed wall will degrade a wooden wall. Also, a small gap is a good hiding place for pests.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
last year
FWIW, I don't like to plant edibles close to our house because of past work/cleaning/painting that leaves unknown residues - and any work/painting/cleaning that may need to be done in the future.

Planters may be a better choice, and not right up against the house.

Around here some people are using metal watering troughs as large planters. These look like they're on wheels...

And I have several Earthboxes that are great for herbs and greens...
R G
Original Author
last year
Thank you @daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa) and @carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10 for taking the time to write. Great advice.

I've been reading a lot of about Earthboxes and have decided to get a few. They seem ideal for my backyard at the moment.

I'm wondering if you can give any advice or suggestions on how to make the space look a little more organized and neater. I wanted remove the orange wooden borders for the current beds you see in the photos, to make more space for the new beds (Earthboxes). There's some soil and gravel, which I should ideally remove? I'm not sure what I can do for edging if I remove the wooden border, which also doesnt serve any purpose. Thanks again
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
last year
An Earthbox isn't a raised bed. It's a big container. Container gardening is quite different than raised bed gardening. Proper watering can be an issue, and you really need to fill it with appropriate mix, and not just garden soil in order to achieve the self-watering it's supposed to assure.. Also, fertilizer buildup is a threat, so you have to be careful about that. I'd do some reading about Earthboxes before you commit.
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carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
last year
Earthboxes come with directions, and tho we initially used the components provided, it's easy to switch to your own products. I now use outdoor potting mix - mainly Kellogg's, and Espoma fertilizer, and follow the same procedures provided with the boxes.

They're self-watering, BTW.

Not sure about the edging situation. That might take some consideration...
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