The Advantages of a Raised Garden Bed

Raised garden beds are constructed on top of the ground. They can be built to any size or shape and made out of untreated wood, fiberglass, bricks, stone, cinder blocks or a snap together, pre-fabricated garden bed can be purchased. Railroad ties are most often treated with creosote, which can be harmful to plants and should not be used as well as treated lumber.

There are many advantages to a well made, raised garden bed.

When using a raised garden bed it is easy to control the soil. New soil alone can be used to fill the bed or ground dirt can be mixed in as well. The soil can be changed with little hassle, for different seasons of growing or just to add new. Even though the plants in a raised garden bed will be above ground, it is not a bad idea to till up the ground under the bed a little to allow extra plant root growth.

Raised garden beds allow gardeners to work from the pathway, instead of in, amongst the plants. They also make it easier for those with bad backs to be able to work in their gardens. Instead of being on their hands and knees, a raised garden bed allows them to sit on a stool and tend to the plants.

Since the soil in a raised garden bed is never walked on, it will remain loose, providing better water drainage and allowing more oxygen to the roots. Plants can be planted closer together since pathways will not be necessary. However, you want to be sure to leave enough room for plants to grow nice and big.

The soil in raised garden beds tends to warm up earlier in the spring and stay warmer longer into the fall. This allows for early planting and latter harvesting, resulting in a longer gardening season.

Watering a raised garden bed is much easier and the amount of water used is less than that of a traditional ground garden. In raised beds, sprinklers or drip irrigation can be easily used and positioned directly to water the plants only. No more watering the pathways and gaps between plants.

Weeding a raised garden bed is also much easier. The weeds pull out with ease thanks to the loose, never walked on soil. Weeds will also have a harder time reaching the raised garden due to the obstacle of the garden bed.

Little yard critters such as rabbits will have a harder time getting to plants over the garden bed walls. This will leave more plants and vegetables for the gardener to enjoy.

Having a raised garden bed can add a great deal of appeal to a garden. Garden beds bring design and creativity as well as height and depth to an ordinary flat garden. They also make a garden took less cluttered and more organized.

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