Acceptable slope on a raised bed

rhines81 · April 29, 2015

I am building several new raised beds this year and 2 of my perimeter beds are roughly 36 ft in length which are connected at each end with 21 ft beds each 3 ft wide. 2 smaller 5x24 ft beds or 4 5x12 ft beds (haven't decided) will be in the middle of the perimeter square.
It looks like I may have up to a 15-18" difference between one end and another due to ground slope. Each corner would require some sort of leveling to make the area aesthetically pleasing, but yet I don't want to get crazy about it. It will also require some compromise between the various beds.
What would be an acceptable slope variation in inches of slope per foot of run before I would start to see run-off or soil shifting in a raised bed?

April 29, 2015	#1
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	Acceptable slope on a raised bed I am building several new raised beds this year and 2 of my perimeter beds are roughly 36 ft in length which are connected at each end with 21 ft beds each 3 ft wide. 2 smaller 5x24 ft beds or 4 5x12 ft beds (haven't decided) will be in the middle of the perimeter square. It looks like I may have up to a 15-18" difference between one end and another due to ground slope. Each corner would require some sort of leveling to make the area aesthetically pleasing, but yet I don't want to get crazy about it. It will also require some compromise between the various beds. What would be an acceptable slope variation in inches of slope per foot of run before I would start to see run-off or soil shifting in a raised bed?