Creating Raised Beds

I'd like to add several raised flower beds to my yard, but I'm not sure where to start.

First identify a location that receives the amount of light needed by the plants you want to grow.  Avoid building raised beds under the drip line of trees.  Additional soil over tree roots can injure or even kill many types of trees.   Next outline the bed keeping maintenance in mine.  Avoid narrow spaces and sharp angles that make mowing difficult.  Use long lasting materials that fit the landscape and are plant and environmentally friendly if you plan to build a wall around this bed.  Stone, plastic lumber and landscape timbers are a few of the commonly used materials.   Cut the existing grass short and cover with several layers of newspaper.  This will kill the grass and weeds.  Cover the area with at least 12 inches of blended topsoil.  Allow twenty percent extra soil for the settling that will occur.  Lightly water or wait two weeks for the soil to settle.  Now you are ready to plant.

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