Raised Bed Gardening

Rise up, flowers and vegetables!

Raised bed gardens provide tall benefits to anyone without an acre, a tractor, and a bushel of teenagers with nothing to do but hoe weeds. Fit more plants into a small space, control weeds and dirt with ease, and save your back from stretching those last few aching inches.

Because you don't have to walk in raised bed gardens, there are no paths, which mean more room for plants. You can wear whatever shoes you happen to have on. When choosing a raised bed container, remember to leave room around it for you to walk.

Get the dirt

If you plan to place your raised bed garden on existing dirt, you can use some of that dirt for your bed. It has valuable minerals, bugs and worms. If you don't know whether your dirt is any good, take a scoopful to your county extension agents, who will test your soil free or for very little cost. They will suggest any additives you might need to balance your soil.

Otherwise, dig up some gardening soil mix. Your garden store will recommend the right kind for raised beds.

Weed eaters

You can save a lot of work with a little preparation. A layer of landscape cloth keeps unwanted plants out. Mulch or bark will help preserve moisture while keeping random weed seeds from taking root. A dusting of pre-emergent under your mulch does wonders too.

Water world

If you choose good dirt to begin with, watering is a snap. Healthy dirt holds moisture. Raised flower and vegetable beds require less water since you're not watering pathways and empty rows. If you really want to conserve, add a rain barrel to collect water naturally. Plants love rain water, which contains magic minerals you don't get from the tap.

Water the dirt, not the leaves. Wet foliage fosters fungus and disease. You don't want to eat that. Raised garden beds drain off excess water easily. It's one more advantage of having your vegetable and flower future up in the air.

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