Would A DIY Garden Bed From Sticks Actually Work?

Gardening improves our physical and mental health, boosts creativity, and can even lead to a longer life. A DIY garden bed made from found materials like sticks woven together or secured with twine is a budget- and eco-friendly way to try your hand at gardening. You don't have to buy expensive planters or dedicate the time a traditional garden requires, where you have to design, till, and test or amend soil before you plant your first seeds. A raised garden bed made from sticks does have a few drawbacks, though — namely, that it may not be strong enough to hold the weight of the soil and the plants. While building a raised garden bed from sticks is cheap and quick, is it really worth it?

Aside from the usual container gardening challenges, like increased watering and fertilization, a raised bed made from sticks has other problems. A cubic foot of soil can weigh up to 114 pounds — a cubic yard can weigh as much as a small truck. Your DIY stick garden bed will have to be structurally sound to support that much weight without collapsing. Plus, a stick-walled raised bed needs to be built with as few gaps as possible to prevent soil and water from leaking out. If you lack hand strength, you may not be able to weave the sticks together tightly enough. You'll also need to invest in some quality soil, since using the wrong soil is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with your container garden. Not convinced the downsides outweigh the benefits? You may be onto something.

For one, the materials for starting this raised bed garden are economical. You might already have the garden twine or thin wire that holds it together. If the sticks are supple enough, you can even weave them together — no twine needed. You might be tempted to gather the sticks you need for your project from a nearby forest or park. However, wildlife depends on downed wood for habitat. As the wood decays, it adds nutrients to the soil. Additionally, there may be ordinances against collecting branches on public land. The best option is to use supple branches from shrubs and trees you or your neighbors have pruned recently. Alternatively, you can buy bundles of real craft sticks on sites like Etsy.

Sticks are raw wood, and they will eventually break down. The process takes about three to four years, depending on the size. You could consider sealing your completed raised garden bed with polyurethane, wood wax, or spray-on sealant. Alternatively, you could embrace the natural process and nutrients the sticks provide the soil, committing to replace rotten sticks or build another garden bed in a few seasons. Strengthen your creation by wrapping a couple of weatherproof webbing straps around the outside of the structure. As mentioned, avoid filling your stick garden bed with soil from your yard. It typically doesn't drain well, easily compacts, and may contain weed seeds or pathogens. Instead, DIY a soil mix for your container garden using vermiculite, peat, coir fiber, and bark.