Woman Uses Affordable Materials To Create A Functional Garden Bed Cover That Looks Good

There are many benefits of raised garden beds. They allow for fewer weeds, better drainage, and, in many cases, improved soil conditions compared to planting in the ground. Not to mention, if your raised bed is tall enough, you don't have to worry about straining your back every time you dig in the dirt. However, that doesn't mean these beds don't have a few downfalls as well. Take TikToker @lirio_keyla's experience, for example. She had beautiful raised garden beds, but critters were enjoying her plants just as much as she was. So, she came up with an affordable but beautiful solution: a hinged garden bed cover made of wood, pipe, and mesh.

There are many great designs for raised garden beds, but this cover works best on wooden varieties, where a hinge can be added easily. The supplies for this project are pretty simple. First, you'll need four cedar boards cut to match the perimeter of your current garden bed. You'll also need L-brackets, flexible pipe, pipe clamps, mesh or wire, a staple gun, and zip ties. Once assembled, this cover should protect your beds from deer, rabbits, and other foraging animals, allowing you to safely grow any of the plants that are perfect for a raised garden bed.

To make your garden bed cover, start by connecting your precut cedar boards with L-brackets. Then cut your pipe to size. In the video, @lirio_keyla uses five pieces of piping on a 4-foot-by-8-foot bed. You can adjust the number of pieces you use depending on your bed size. Fasten the pipe to the inner side of your longest boards with pipe clamps, then bend it in a U shape and attach the other end to the opposite side. Repeat until complete. Once the pipes are in place, drape your mesh over your new pipe frame, fasten it to the wood with a stapler, and secure it to the pipe with zip ties. As a final touch, cut the excess length of the zip ties, place your garden cover on top of your bed, and attach it with hinges. Now it can easily open when you need to harvest from your garden and close shut to keep plants protected from critters when you're not around.

@lirio_keyla

First-time gardener building garden bed covers on a budget! DIY projects,home improvements,gardening wins (and mistakes), and plenty of learning along the way. Follow for real-life backyard adventures. #Gardening #GardenDIY #RaisedBeds #HomeProjects #BackyardGarden

♬ original sound – lirio_keyla

This garden bed cover provides a professional look but is DIY-friendly. It's also quite customizable. You can swap out the pipe color, use wire instead of mesh, and paint or stain the frame to match your current garden beds. 

Just remember, you may want to think twice before covering your whole garden with mesh. While the mesh in the video tutorial has wide holes, some types of insect-proof mesh netting have very small holes, which can reduce ventilation and stop pollinators from visiting your garden. Research the best type of mesh or netting for the particular plants in your raised bed and the pests you're dealing with before making a purchase.