Raised Garden Beds

They are fairly easy to create and, once created, gardening becomes a much simpler and more productive process.

Raised gardening beds can be simple beds of mounded planting soil that are three to five feet wide.

They can be made as long as you want, and are usually built in rows separated by paths.

You may want to consider enclosing the beds in a wooden frame, for various reasons.

Annual and perennial flowers can be grown in raised beds, as can herbs. But vegetables are the most common use for raised garden beds in the home garden.

Advantages to Raised Bed Gardening

Raised garden beds save time in the garden. You only need to work the soil in the area being planted. Watering and fertilizing are limited, as the paths don't need either.

Weeding is greatly reduced because you can plant crops close together, limiting the weed's access to growing space. Paths can be covered with a mulch to keep down weeds.

Planting crops closer together also means you need less overall space, because you can plant twice as many plants closer together in a raised bed than in a regular row.

If you add a frame that's wide enough to sit on, you have a place to take a break and keep your tools while you work.

Best of all, because raised beds are only a few feet wide, access to your vegetables is easier, requiring less bending and reaching than deeper beds require.

Considering all these advantages, raised garden beds are a good option for the home gardener.

Creating a Raised Garden

Preparing the soil is the most important step in the process. This can be time consuming, but is well worth the effort later.

Start by digging up and working the soil in the area, either by hand or with a tiller.

Add compost or manure to improve the soil quality if needed, and work these in well. The height of the mound depends on your personal needs.

For a gardener with physical limitations, a higher mound that places crops within arms reach may be preferred.

For someone in a wheelchair, additional height can be provided for easier access. Create a mound that is flat on top and sloping on the sides to prevent soil erosion and help retain water.

A frame will also help prevent water and soil runoff and allows you to build the mound higher.

You can build a wooden frame, but be sure to use wood that is not chemically treated, as the chemicals can leach into the soil over time.

Natural cedar, locust or cypress woods are best choices, as they will last many years. You can also use bricks, rocks or cement blocks to border the mounds.

Raised garden beds are an efficient way to use a limited amount of space for gardening. With a little preparation, maintenance and work are greatly reduced and harvest is greatly increased.

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