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The Raised Bed Garden: Benefits

July 31, 2020

How Raised Beds Can Change the Way You Garden

Introduction

So just what is a raised bed? It is a volume of garden soil contained within a set of walls made of wood, stone, metal or concrete that rises above the normal soil level. It’s a popular method of creating a garden space, but has many benefits.

The Benefits of the Raised Garden

Why go to all the extra effort to build a raised bed garden for your flowers or vegetables? Using raised beds can not only improve the quality of your plants and overall gardening experience, but they can also add an aesthetic factor to the garden with shape and dimension. Here are some of the general benefits of raised bed gardening:

  • Less weeding – Ok, let’s face it, I hate weeds. They are the bane of my existence, and I spend many hours of the day picking, pinching and digging to try and reduce their presence. With a raised bed, you are starting with a fresh and clean soil base, and if you mulch correctly, you should have minimal weeds (at least for a season :))
  • Control of Soil Chemistry and Makeup – with raised beds, you have total control of the soil, its pH and overall consistency. You can add sand, peat or fertilizer to create the perfect environment for what you are growing. It’s a clean palette, and can be easier to build out than existing soil.
  • Better water retention – Because you control the soil and consistency, if you live in areas with sandy soil, you can make sure your plants get adequate water and it is retained during the hot months.
  • Minimal soil compaction – Raised beds provide the ability to work an area of soil without walking on it, and compacting it. Loose, fertile soil allows for oxygen to reach the roots, as well as a medium for even water absorption.
  • Soil temperature – warmer soil temperatures early in the season and later in the season extend your growth window, and raised beds provide a nice extension. Like a garden blanket, the soil volume is insulated from the extremes of ground and air.
  • Save the back – that extra height brings the garden up to you, and for us older folks in the crowd, it can allow for a gardening experience without the bending and kneeling that is a killer.

In Conclusion

This is the first in a series of posts on raised beds, follow us here and on Facebook and Instagram to stay in touch. Here are some other links to some great posts:

Raised Beds (Wikipedia)

Raised Bed Gardens