Beds made from plastic boxes are considered a fairly practical solution. It is important to choose the design of the right size. Quite often such structures look very attractive. Homemade plastic beds are perfect for areas that have light soil. To get the desired result, it is important to adhere to the installation rules.
What is grown in mobile beds
In such beds it is permissible to grow different types of salads, parsley and dill. Chard, watercress, spinach and some varieties of vegetables are also planted in boxes.
An important advantage of beds and flower beds is the possibility of obtaining greenery or abundant flowering much earlier than when planting in open soil. Temporary placement of boxes with seedlings or planted seeds in a greenhouse or on a glassed-in veranda will help achieve this effect.
Portable beds are great for planting herbs. These include coriander, basil, mint. Among ornamental crops, it is recommended to give preference to annuals. Spectacular options include ampelous varieties of petunias. It is also permissible to plant climbing nasturtium and morning glory.
Advantages and disadvantages
Mobile beds have the following advantages:
- Ease of installation and disassembly of the structure. This applies in particular to models with ready-made fixation.
- Durability. Plastic structures are not susceptible to corrosion, fungi and mold.
- Easy to care for. Growing plants in such boxes is much easier.
- The ability to give the garden a neat appearance.
- Availability. Plastic boxes have an affordable price.
However, such structures also differ in a number of disadvantages:
- Lack of resistance to sunlight. Therefore, it is recommended to treat products with special protective agents.
- Risk of material deformation. This usually occurs with prolonged contact with water.
- Rapid drying of the soil.
Required tools and materials
To create such structures you will need plastic boxes. If desired, they can be painted with acrylic paints. To prevent soil from spilling out through the holes, the inside of the boxes must be covered with burlap or plastic wrap.
How to make beds from boxes with your own hands
It’s easy to make portable beds from plastic boxes.Moreover, a set of containers of the same format allows for the creation of different structures - shelving, slides or pyramids. If you stack plastic containers in 2 tiers, you will be able to get high beds. In this case, the bottom of the top drawers needs to be cut out.
If you want to change the appearance of the container, you can paint it with acrylic paints. In this case, it is permissible to choose any suitable color.
To prevent soil from spilling through the lattice walls and bottom and to avoid loss of moisture during watering, the inside of the container must be lined with film or burlap. Also, any covering material is perfect for this purpose.
An excellent solution would be to use a covering fabric or spunbond. Thanks to this, the root system of plants receives much more air. This effect is achieved through the use of breathable material.
Selection of soil and features of use
When creating raised beds from plastic boxes, you need to properly fill them with soil and nutrients. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:
- Lay the drainage system as the first layer. To organize it, it is recommended to use crushed tree bark, fallen leaves, small branches, and wood shavings.
- The second layer is formed from fertilizers. To organize this layer, it is recommended to use manure. In this case, the best option would be rotted fertilizer.
- It is recommended to use moisture-permeable material as the third layer. It can be organized in the same way as the first layer.
- It is worth using organic matter as a base for the next layer. At this stage, it is recommended to use a combined mineral preparation.
- The next layer is to lay fertile soil.It is recommended to choose its composition taking into account the plants that are planned to be grown in the garden. The minimum layer thickness is 10 centimeters.
Beds made from plastic boxes have many advantages. Such structures are easy to install and greatly facilitate plant care. To achieve success in growing crops, it is recommended to adhere to the basic recommendations of experts.
