Raised Garden Beds
Raised bed gardening is a great way to grow flowers, herbs, fruits, and
vegetables. Raised bed gardens offer a host of advantages, and is aesthetically
pleasing. Some of the prettiest and best kept gardens, are grown in raised
beds. There is something about a raised bed garden, that make gardeners more
conscious about the appearance of their plants. And, the benefits are many.
Making a raised bed garden frame is relatively easy. All you need is
a hammer, saw, wood and some nails. If you want an even easier set-up, you
can buy long lasting, heavy duty plastic raised beds, that are both quick
to set-up, and strikingly attractive.
Benefits:
Warmer soil- The soil is elevated above ground level, allowing the
sun and air to warm it faster. This facilitates earlier planting, and better
seed germination, especially in colder, more northern climates.
Easy to reach- Less bending over and stretching makes the joys of
working in your garden and harvesting it far more pleasurable. People with
back or knee problems, other handicaps, and elderly people really appreciate
the ease of access.
Good drainage- Because the soil is above ground level, heavy rains
drain off much better. Standing water is entirely eliminated. And, the existence
and length of waterlogged soil after heavy downpours is minimized.
Control of soil content- Sure, you can use soil from the surrounding
area. But, people with raised beds will bring in as much as 100% of the soil,
compost and manure they need to fill the beds. The resulting mix is a vast
improvement over the soil in your back yard. In addition, growers seek a
soil mix that is ideal for the plants they will grow in their raised beds.
Appearance- Raised beds make for just about the most attractive gardens
around. Maybe, it just seems that way, or it's personal preference. More
likely, it's the fact that people who use raised beds tend to care more about
the overall appearance of their garden .
How to make Flower and Vegetable Raised Garden Beds:
The frame can be landscape timbers, railroad ties, two by tens, concrete
blocks or just about any other durable and strong material that will hold
in your soil. Even an old tractor trailer tire can be used. Years ago, this
was in fashion. Make sure the frame is sturdy enough to hold in the soil.
Anchor the sides from collapsing outward if need be. The bottom should be
open. If you are using a box or container of any kind, remove the bottom
to provide good drainage. Do not line the bottom of the frame with plastic
which will impede drainage.
Tip: Make sure the width of the bed is no more than two arms lengths.This
way you can reach any part of the garden without stretching or climbing across
the bed and plants.
The soil- While you can use soil from the surrounding area, it is
best to select the soil mixture that is ideal for the plants you are planning
to grow. If the raised bed is really high, use soil from the surrounding
area at the bottom.
Drip hose- This is optional. You can use sprinklers or hand water.
But a drip hose makes the raised bed more maintenance free and efficient.
Add it at or just below the soil level . Make sure to work it in a pattern
that will evenly cover the entire area in the raised bed.
Mulch- To make your raised bed almost maintenance free, use plastic
mulch to keep weeds out. Add organic mulches of your choice for appearance.
Make a series of smaller beds. Landscape around the beds with stone, mulch
or add paving blocks to create whatever style and look you desire.
Raised Bed Garden Soil:
One of the best things about having a raised bed frame in your garden, is
the soil you put into it. Here is where gardeners excel.
Filling your raised bed starts with lots and lots of compost. Most raised
beds contain far more compost than the garden itself. While you will want
to add ample amounts of compost, and some decomposed manure, you should also
mix in some regular garden soil.
Tip: After filling and mixing the soil in your raised bed frame, check
the soil pH. The materials you use in the frame, could easily need adjustment
to reach an ideal pH level for your plants.
More on Soil pH
See our Soil Testers now!!
Buy Guarden Raised Garden Bed Frames Perfect for people
who aren't into building their own raised beds. These raised beds are attractive,
long lasting and affordable. Guarden raised bed frames are the strongest
in the industry. A greenhouse system can be added to them, too.
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