Turning a Gravel Parking Pad into a Raised Bed Garden

After 24 years of gravel, the soil beneath is compacted and likely contaminated. Don't till it—build up instead.

Build a Raised Bed

• Frame: 12-inch deep cedar (rot-resistant).
• Fill: 75% organic matter (compost, peat moss, shredded leaves, dried grass clippings, aged manure) + 25% topsoil.
• If you lack materials, buy a quality compost blend from a landscape supplier.

Why This Works

The rich, living soil teems with beneficial microbes that suppress disease and pests. It holds moisture, drains well, and produces more flavorful vegetables with less watering. You bypass the poor native soil entirely.

This method guarantees a productive garden from year one, even on former pavement.