Narrabeen, NSW

This gentleman liked the look of our wicking beds but wanted a standard open-bottomed raised bed rather than a self-watering one, as it was for a property he rents out. We installed it in a sunny spot; without a reservoir underneath it will need watering, but for natives or drought-tolerant planting that's no drawback at all.

Not every job calls for wicking, and an open-bottomed raised bed is a sensible choice for a Narrabeen rental or for hardy, low-water planting that doesn't need a reservoir. Even without the self-watering base, a well-built raised bed adds instant structure, better soil and useful growing space to a Northern Beaches yard, and lets roots run down into the ground below.

The sandy, free-draining soils common around Narrabeen and the lakes suit this kind of bed well, especially planted with coastal natives, herbs or the tougher vegetables that cope with a drier footing. It's a straightforward, good-looking way to lift and define a garden without committing to the full wicking system.

Either way, the same premium, kiln-dried and food-safe timber means a bed that still looks good years down the track rather than greying and splitting. We build raised garden beds, vegetable beds and self-watering planters right across Narrabeen and the Northern Beaches — wicking or not — so if you've a spot in mind, we're happy to talk through what suits it best.