Gardening in raised beds is a great way to grow! Matter of fact it’s my favorite way to garden. You can grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers, even if you have limited space or poor soil quality.
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Raised Bed Gardening
Raised Garden beds give a number of advantages over traditional in-ground gardens, including:
- Improved Soil drainage: Raised beds are usually filled with a well-draining mix of soil and compost, which helps to prevent root rot and other problems caused by waterlogged soil.
- Warmer soil: Raised beds warm up earlier in the spring than in-ground gardens, which gives you a longer growing season.
- Fewer weeds: Raised beds are easier to weed than in-ground gardens because the soil is looser and there are fewer weeds to compete with than in ground beds.
- Less soil compaction: Raised beds are less likely to become compacted than in-ground gardens, which means that roots have more room to grow and plants are healthier.
- Easier access: Raised beds can be built at any height, which makes them easier to access for gardeners with mobility issues.
How to: Raised Bed Gardening
- Choose the right location: Place your raised beds in a sunny spot that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Flowers and Vegetables need 6 plus hours of sun to properly perform.
- Build your raised beds: Raised beds can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and concrete. The ideal height for a raised bed is 12-18 inches.
- Fill your raised beds with soil: Use a well-draining mix of soil and compost. You can purchase a raised bed mix from a garden center or make your own by mixing equal parts compost, topsoil, and vermiculite or perlite. Potting soil also works but be sure to add better soil and compost year after year.
- Amend your soil: If your soil is poor quality, you can amend it with compost or other organic matter. You can also add in fertilizers to help your plants get a head start.
- Choose your plants: When choosing plants for your raised bed, consider the size and spacing requirements of each plant. You should also choose plants that are suited to your climate.
- Start Seeds: You can start seeds directly in your raised garden beds so long as it’s warm enough.
- Water your plants regularly: Raised beds dry out more quickly than traditional gardens, so be sure to water your plants regularly, especially during hot weather. Setting up up drip irrigation in your raised garden beds is a game changer.
- Fertilize your plants: Fertilize your plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
- Weed your raised bed regularly: Weeds compete with your plants for water and nutrients, so be sure to weed your raised bed regularly.
- Harvest your plants: Harvest your plants when they are ready.
To learn how to start your first vegetable garden read this!
Best Material for Raised Garden Beds
The best materials for a raised bed garden are those that are durable, rot-resistant, and non-toxic.
- Wood: Wood is a popular choice for raised bed gardens because it is easy to work with. Can be pricey depending on how much you need. However, it is important to choose a type of wood that is naturally rot-resistant, such as cedar, redwood, or cypress. Always go for non treated wood.
- Metal: Metal raised bed gardens are more durable than wooden raised bed gardens and they are less likely to rot. However, metal can be more expensive than wood initially but they last much longer than wood.
- Concrete: Concrete raised bed gardens are very durable and long-lasting. They are beautiful but may take more time to build than others.
- Bricks: Bricks, like the concrete beds are another durable and long-lasting option for raised bed gardens. However, they can be expensive and time-consuming to install.
Raised Bed Garden Tips:
Consider adding one of these to the bottom of your raised beds prior to adding soil.
- Wire mesh: Wire mesh can be used to prevent weeds from growing up through the soil. However, it is important to use a heavy-duty wire mesh that will not rust or corrode. If you have pest that dig underground like moles and voles then wire mesh or hardware cloth will keep them out.
- Landscape fabric: Landscape fabric is another option for preventing weeds from growing up through the soil. However, it is important to use a breathable landscape fabric that will allow water to drain through the soil.
- Wood chips or bark: Wood chips or bark can be used to mulch the bottom of your raised bed garden. This will help to keep the soil moist and suppress weeds.
- Cardboard: Cardboard is a great material for suppressing weeds which makes it a great material for the base of your raised bed.
Think about this before starting:
- What’s your budget? Some materials, such as metal and concrete, are more expensive than others, such as wood and bricks. If you need to purchase soil it can get quite pricey depending on how many bags you need.
- Consider your needs. If you have mobility issues, you may want to choose a material that is easy to work with and that does not require a lot of maintenance.
Best Soils For Raised Garden Beds
The best soil choices for a raised bed garden are those that are well-draining, nutrient-rich, and airy. Some of the best soil choices for raised bed gardens include:
- Raised bed mix: Raised bed mix is a specially formulated soil that is designed for use in raised bed gardens. It is typically made with a blend of compost, topsoil, and vermiculite or perlite. Raised bed mix is well-draining and nutrient-rich, making it ideal for growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
- Compost: Compost is a great addition to any soil, but it is especially beneficial for raised bed gardens. Compost is nutrient-rich and it helps to improve drainage. You can make your own compost or purchase it from a garden center.
- Topsoil: Topsoil is the top layer of soil that is naturally found in the ground. It is typically nutrient-rich and well-draining. However, it is important to test your topsoil before using it in a raised bed garden to make sure that it is free of contaminants.
- Vermiculite: Vermiculite is a mineral that is mined from volcanic rock. It is lightweight and airy, and it helps to improve drainage. Vermiculite is a good addition to raised bed mix or topsoil.
- Perlite: Perlite is another mineral that is mined from volcanic rock. It is lightweight and airy, and it helps to improve drainage. Perlite is a good addition to raised bed mix or topsoil.
No matter what type of soil you choose for your raised bed garden, it is important to amend it with organic matter, such as compost or manure. Organic matter will help to improve drainage, fertility, and water retention.
The Hugelkultur Method
To create a hugelkultur bed in your raised garden, simply fill it with large woody debris, such as logs, branches, and stumps. Then, cover the debris with compost, soil, and mulch. As the wood decomposes, it will release nutrients into the soil and create a habitat for beneficial organisms. This is a great way to fill your raised garden bed and it uses less soil which in turn will save you money!
Why Grow in Raised Garden Beds
Gardening in raised beds is a great way to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers, especially if you have limited space or poor soil quality. Raised beds offer a number of advantages over traditional in-ground gardens, including:
- Improved drainage: Raised beds are typically filled with a well-draining mix of soil and compost, which helps to prevent root rot and other problems caused by waterlogged soil.
- Warmer soil: Raised beds warm up earlier in the spring than in-ground gardens, which gives you a longer growing season.
- Fewer weeds: Raised beds are easier to weed than in-ground gardens because the soil is looser and there are fewer weeds to compete with.
- Easier access: Raised beds can be built at any height, which makes them easier to access for gardeners with mobility issues.
Raised Bed Gardening Game Changers
- Use a drip irrigation system: A drip irrigation system can help to conserve water and reduce evaporation.
- Mulch your raised bed: Mulch will help to keep the soil moist and suppress weeds.
- Rotate your crops: Rotating your crops will help to prevent pests and diseases.
- Companion plant: Companion planting can help to attract beneficial insects and repel pests.
- Hugelkultur: Fill the bottom half of your raised beds with branches, twigs, leaves and other organic matter. Doing this will save money on buying soil.
Raised Bed Gardening is a great way to garden for many people. You are able to control your soil and soil nutrients easier. You can build your raised beds to any height needed and grow anything you want in them. Its a win win garden situation.
Happy Gardening!