There has been a considerable increase in the number of people turning to their own gardens to grow their own vegetables to save money and to eat healthier food. Organic gardening is enjoying a level of popularity like never before and raised gardening seems to be the popular choice. A quick stroll around a few of the gardens in your neighborhood will reveal small board or stone sided rectangles in peoples' backyards housing mini vegetable gardens.
First let us look at what a raised bed is. It is a small patch of land that is fenced in by either wood, stone, cinderblock or brick. In this article we cover some of the main aspects of raised bed gardening to help you make the transition from in-ground to raised bed gardening in a smooth way. The beds are built atop the native soil and may or may not incorporate the soil. The raised bed gardens can be built with a variety of materials. Alternatively you can simply pile up the soil and ingredients to several inches in height and go ahead and plant anything from herbs to vegetables.
Raised gardening is not a new concept and has been in use for centuries to grow cash crops. There are advantages to be had in using this method to grow a healthy garden, though it may be a bit more expensive than just digging up the existing soil and planting your vegetables. The raised beds are uniformly spaced out and the gardener can tend them from both sides quite comfortably.
When planning a raised garden you have to consider the cost of rot resistant, untreated wood, if wood is your choice of wall frame for the garden. Line the bottom with a hardware fabric or chicken wire to prevent the voles and moles from getting into the garden. If you think you don't have any in your garden, guess again! Look into the watering system you have, if your garden is going to be large enough to warrant more than a hose and spray nozzle you will need to have the connect laid on. You will buy the best quality soil and compost so factor that in as well.
Some of the advantages of having a raised bed garden are:
- You have the opportunity to grow your vegetables in the highest quality soil and compost available. Raised beds help you build up a rich and fertile base for your plants and you can make the adjustments with compost and fertilizer very easily.
- Soil drainage is far better in raised beds than in-ground gardens and you will not have to stand in puddle water in your garden. Make sure to line the bottom with sand and rocks to facilitate good drainage.
- Weeds and slugs will mostly stay out of your raised garden; it is not so easy for the weeds to get into a raised bed garden. If you leave enough room between the rows you can even use your mower to keep things tidy.
- A well laid out garden means less maintenance time and no need to bend over for ages tending the beds.
- A well laid out garden means less maintenance time and no need to bend over for ages tending the beds.