A raised bed can not only be set up in a simple box made of wood, plastic or metal, a dry or mortared border made of natural stone is also ideal for building such a garden. This variant is particularly recommended for terraced or sloped gardens, but such constructions also fit perfectly into the overall ensemble in normal gardens.
What advantages does a raised bed made of natural stone have and which materials are suitable?
A raised bed made of natural stone offers advantages such as longevity, natural charm and provides shelter for beneficial insects. Suitable natural stones are granite, bas alt, sandstone, dolomite or field stone. The raised bed can be built as a drywall or brick version, although a foundation is necessary.
Advantages of natural stone
Natural stone has a number of advantages over other materials. Stone - not just natural stone, but stone in general - is extremely robust, so that raised beds made from it can be used for many years, even many decades. In addition, beds with brick borders serve more purposes than just keeping the filling material inside: walls support slopes in sloped gardens, are suitable for creating a terrace garden or can also be used as seating or storage space. A creative variant of a raised bed, for example, is this one with a wide natural stone wall, on the edge of which a wide board has been embedded as a bench.
Other advantages of natural stone raised beds include:
- The natural cracks and small caves serve as shelter for small animals.
- This ensures that beneficial insects such as hedgehogs, earwigs, etc. feel comfortable in your garden.
- The side joints between the stones can be filled with soil and planted.
- Various rock garden plants are very suitable for this.
- Natural stone blends completely naturally and harmoniously into the surroundings.
- You can also use the stones to build paths or for the terrace.
- So the theme of “natural stone” runs like a common thread through your garden.
Which types of natural stone are suitable for building raised beds?
Of course, not all natural stone is the same, there are countless different types suitable for building a raised bed. These differ in their nature, appearance and processing. Granite or bas alt can be used for dark-colored raised beds. If you like it lighter, choose sandstone. Constructions made of dolomite or crystalline marble, on the other hand, look very elegant. Of course, many of the types of rock mentioned are quite expensive. You can save a lot of money by using field stones - for example those you have collected yourself.
Building a raised bed out of natural stone – step-by-step instructions
You can create a natural stone raised bed without mortar as a drywall or as a brick version. Irregularly shaped stones are best suited for dry stone walls, which are stacked tightly on top of each other and whose joints are filled with potting soil or gravel if necessary. For mortared walls, however, we recommend stones with a straight, even edge that are carefully placed on top of each other and firmly walled. Both constructions require a foundation for which you dig a pit at least 20 centimeters deep. The soil must be carefully compacted with a vibrator and then filled with gravel. This also needs to be condensed. For appropriately high walls, depending on the statics, cast concrete floor slabs or point foundations could also make sense.
Tip
To keep your natural stone raised bed looking attractive for longer, you can clean it regularly (or have it cleaned). This can be done mechanically with a sponge, water and soap - or, especially for materials such as marble or dolomite, with a steam or high-pressure cleaner.
