Raised bed
A raised bed can also be used to create a biodiverse area in small spaces such as on the balcony or patio, or if the available space is sealed.
Material
- Compost grid
- Wooden boards
- bubble wrap
- Wall gravel or expanded clay
- Soil and humus
- Native wild plants
Structure
- Place the cylindrical compost grid in the desired location
- Line the inside of the compost grid with wooden boards cut to the height of the grid
- Cover the inside of the wooden boards with the bubble wrap
- To prevent waterlogged soil, fill the cylinder to ¾ height with wall gravel or expanded clay. The latter is lighter than gravel.
- - Fill the top layer with a mixture of wall gravel and soil and hummus – depending on the location and plant with more or less soil and humus (follow the instructions for the plants)
- Plant with native wild plants in spring or fall
- The raised bed must not be too large on the balcony because it will be too heavy (statics). Ready-made raised beds or kits are available from specialist retailers
Function
- The native wild plants serve as a food source for many insects
Unplanted raised planting beds
©Wildnispark Zürich/Emilia Sinkeviciute
Planted raised bed
©Wildnispark Zürich/Abigél Schnellmann
