| Permanent Raised Bed Gardening: Corrugated Sheet Metal Beds |
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Introduction
Bed Layout
Site Selection
Site Preparation
Plot Layout
Recycled Auto Tire Beds
Rubber Board Fabrication
Multiple Tire Design
Recycled Auto Tire Bed
Plastic Mesh Beds
Material Preparation
Bed Assembly
Corrugated Sheet Metal Beds
Material Preparation
Bed Assembly
Preparing Beds for Planting
Soil Preparation
Seed Bed Preparation
Installing a Drip Irrigation System
Plastic Mulch Application
Planting Techniques
Water Management
Feeding the Growing Garden
Selection and Use of Fertilizer Injectors
Overcoming Weather Woes
Low (Mini) Tunnel Plans
Growing Vertically
Soil Solarization
Appendix
One limitation of the recycled auto tire bed design is that, at 8 inches high, it is too low to work while in a seated position. Consequently, recent efforts have focused on the development of a relatively inexpensive high profile raised bed.
 Corrugated sheet metal beds ready for planting |
After evaluating several materials and construction techniques, we settled on a corrugated sheet metal-lined bed supported by a frame made of sucker rod and 2-inch by 4-inch treated lumber.
Of all the different high profile bed designs we've evaluated, the corrugated sheet metal design is the quickest and easist to construct.
The material cost to construct a corrugated sheet metal bed, excluding soil mix, is approximately $1.70 per sq. ft.
Refer to Table 1 for a list of building materials to construct one 40-inch by 30-foot corrugated sheet metal bed.
Table 1.| Building materials needed to construct one 40-inch wide x 30-foot-long corrugated sheet metal raised bed | |||
| Quantity | Item Description | Unit Price | Total |
| 210 foot | 5/8-inch sucker rod | $0.28 | $58.80 |
| 2 | 2-inch x 4-inch x 12-foot treated lumber | $5.97 | $11.94 |
| 4 | 2-inch x 4-inch x 10-foot treated lumber | $5.39 | $21.56 |
| 1 | 2-inch x 4-inch x 8-foot treated lumber | $4.97 | $4.97 |
| 3 | 26 -inch x 12-foot corrugated sheeting | $10.60 | $31.80 |
| 1 | 10-foot steel angle (flashing) | $5.85 | $5.85 |
| 67 foot | 1-inch x 2-inch treated lath | $0.19 | $12.73 |
| 4 | 2-inch x 4-inch saddle connector | $1.17 | $4.68 |
| 1 pound | 1-inch metal-to-wood screws | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| 1 1/4 pound | 1 1/2-inch joist hanger nails | $2.64 | $2.64 |
| 1 pound | 1 5/8-inch exterior wood screws | $6.07 | $6.07 |
| 1 pound | 3-inch exterior wood screws | $6.07 | $6.07 |
| Total | $171.11 | ||
Refer to Table 2 for a list of components required to assemble one 40-inch by 30-foot corrugated sheet metal raised bed.
Table 2.| Components required to assemble one 40-inch by 30-foot corrugated sheet metal raised bed | |||
| Quantity | Component | ||
| 70 | 5/8-inch x 36-inch sucker rod | ||
| 2 | 2-inch x 4-inch x 10-foot 6-inches treated lumber | ||
| 2 | 2-inch x 4-inch x 10-foot treated lumber | ||
| 2 | 2-inch x 4-inch x 9-foot 6-inches treated lumber | ||
| 2 | 2-inch x 4-inch x 3-foot 1-inch treated lumber | ||
| 4 | 13-inch x 12-foot corrugated sheeting | ||
| 2 | 13-inch x 9-foot corrugated sheeting | ||
| 2 | 13-inch x 3-foot corrugated sheeting | ||
| 4 | 12-inch steel flashing | ||
| (Cut to Fit) | 1-inch x 2-inch treated lath | ||
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