The early spring this year has lots of people thinking about starting a vegetable garden, but for many, space is a problem. However, a raised-bed planter can be tucked into just about any corner of your yard. And thanks to easy-to-use segmental retaining wall systems, most do-it-yourselfers can build one with a minimum of skill and tools.

“We’ve seen quite a few folks come in with spring fever who are anxious to start their own “Victory Garden,” says Dave Johnson, manager of Patio Town in Oakdale. “But for many of them, their yard space is limited, so we suggest a raised-bed planter that can stand alone in the yard or be built alongside your house or garage.”

A raised-bed garden has other advantages besides size, Johnson notes.

“Because they’re elevated, there’s less stooping and they’re a lot easier to tend to. With a nice capped top, you have a place to sit or place your gardening tools while you work,” says Johnson.

No expensive concrete footings or special equipment are required for building a planter with segmental retaining wall systems, Johnson explains. “A few basic tools such as a shovel, level, mallet and masonry chisel are needed. The wall itself sits on a bed of crushed gravel and sand. Depending on your design, you may want to rent a concrete saw or you can just use a masonry blade in a standard circular saw.”

Patio Town has several types of segmental wall systems from which to choose. Handywall and Ledgestone are concrete blocks that are simply stacked and glued. Versa-Lok is a premium engineered wall system that uses a series of pins to connect the courses together.

“These retaining wall systems come in a variety of natural colors and textures,” says Johnson. “We can match them to your home’s exterior or an existing patio. We’ll even help you choose the right materials and design your raised-bed garden. Just stop in and ask one of our landscaping experts on staff.”

Patio Town offers regular retaining wall installation classes for free at its three Twin Cities locations. Visit www.patiotown.com for a full schedule.

For more ideas on raised-bed planters, visit the Versa-Lok Online Image Library. Or check out the outdoor displays at Patio Town’s retail locations in Oakdale, Burnsville and Maple Grove.