You can create a temporary raised bed using convenient, affordable straw bales. Bales of straw—wheat, oat, or alfalfa—work best. Pine straw will not work because it sheds water. Hay bales also work, but they carry a lot of seeds that may become a nuisance. Look for bales bound with synthetic twine, which won’t break down.
For our easy straw bale bed, we simply formed a bed frame with the bales and then filled the bed with soil. Here’s how.
Over the first growing season, the straw bales will settle and decompose a bit, adding nutrients to the thriving garden inside. A straw bale garden bed could last a couple of growing seasons, depending on your climate.
Some gardeners, including our friend P. Allen Smith, plant directly into the straw bales. This involves a process of curing the bales so that they break down and create a composting, soil-like growing environment. You can learn more about this technique in the Straw Bale Planter article on Allen’s website.
Nice work … but how about that fine looking raised and mulched bed in the background? Any info on that fine looking thing? Thanks much.
Hi David,
Thanks! Yes, actually, we have info on building that wooden raised bed in our article How to Build a Raised Bed. Click through the image slideshow for how-to instructions.
Happy growing!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants