Everything You Need to Know About Planting Raised Garden Beds
Everything You Need to Know About Planting Raised Garden Beds
Do you think that planting a raised garden bed is beyond you? It couldn't be further from the truth, as this is easier than it appears! Planting raised garden beds are also excellent if you want to save time growing your garden and maximize your space's efficiency.
They save you from the necessity of finding a space that is huge or has excellent soil. Instead, you can simply rely on your creativity to get things going. Simply, raised garden beds are one the best ways to use readily available materials and space. To build your kind of raised ground bed there are many factors to consider; location, base type, proper soil, and height of the raised bed.
Therefore, you will not regret using raised garden beds after seeing your garden space thrive and look beautiful. Read on to get some tips on planting a raised garden bed!
What are Raised Garden Beds?
So, what exactly is a raised garden bed? Raised garden beds can refer to multiple planting arrangements. Usually, though, a raised bed refers to a bed put on top of the space's existing soil.
You can maintain the height of the bed depending upon your available space and needs. There are a variety of materials available to make one for yourself. Usually, these raised beds require a solid frame. You can use stone, plastic, patio pavers, wood, bricks, broken concrete, or cinder blocks.
Ensure that you have an outside room to easily make your way around the plants without walking inside the bed.
Why should you Grow in a Raised Garden Bed?
One of the main benefits of planting raised garden beds is the flexibility of spaces that you can use for growing your garden. Many areas will be open to you for growing your garden if you choose to plant a raised garden bed.
You can even use land without any soil to grow using raised garden bed. Needless to say, you can easily design a bed that you can use within your existing space. A raised garden bed has many purposes. You can cover areas that aren't appealing to look at, bring an entryway to life, or even make a beautiful perimeter garden.
Planting a raised garden bed is particularly useful if you have limited space for growing. You can place your plants a lot closer to each other to maximize the use of the bed. Planting a raised garden bed gives you the advantage of producing in early winter, with a lesser risk of frost. You'll have minimum water problems and won't have to worry about cold soil in the springtime.
Here are some additional benefits of raised garden beds.
A Better Experience for Your Plants
Raised garden beds can provide a better experience for your plants compared to a regular garden.
Raised gardens make it much easier to amend the soil without worrying about erosion. Weeds are another worry that eliminates. It also applies to pests and diseases.
Container Gardens vs. Raised Bed Gardens
Are you confused about using a raised bed garden or a container garden? One of the disadvantages of a raised bed garden is that they're closer to the ground, so you'll have to bend over more to tend to your garden. So, if you have some back problems, you might want to consider that.
Container beds are reasonably movable, and you can place them at more accessible locations. They also need lesser soil when you're doing your initial planting. You will find the weeds to grow significantly slower.
However, a raised garden bed offers an optimum mix of volume and space that a container garden cannot match. It is possible to grow many more plants in a raised bed garden compared to a container garden.
How to Plant a Raised Garden Bed
One of the pros of building a raised garden bed on your own is it is cost-effective. You'd have to dedicate a weekend for this, at least. Or you could decide to save yourself some time and buy a raised garden bed.
If you have a DIY attitude, read on to find how you can make a raised garden bed on your own!
Choose Your Bed Type
Before you get to planting the bed, you have to build it first. First, you decide on the type of base that you want to develop.
Usually, the height of most raised beds is 6 inches. The greater the size, the better it is for your plants. Greater soil depth means that your plant's roots have more room to grow. The bigger the roots, the healthier your plants will be. Your bed will also be able to absorb more water this way.
Identify the Right Location to Plant
Now you need to identify the ideal location for your bed. Remember that you can't move your bed once you fill it with soil, so be careful when you decide this!
Decide a spot that gets sunlight for at least 8 hours daily. Very few plants thrive in the shade, so more sunlight is always better. Also, avoid locations where the soil of your bed would remain soggy.
Although raised beds have better drainage than gardens planted directly on the land, be mindful of the drainage and slope of the space where you intend to place your raised bed.
Fill the Bed with Soil
The next thing to do is to fill the bed with soil. This step is one of the more tedious parts of making your bed unless you like to get your hands dirty. It means you can get a better soil blend than the soil in the space you're using.
However, buying many bags of dirt from your local nursery can be costly. It's best to buy the soil in bulk, especially if you intend to make many raised garden beds. Compost and other organic materials can help in filling your beds. Ensure you've removed weeds or grass from where you plan to place the bed.
What and When should you Plant?
There's no limitation to the kind of flowers, vegetables, or fruits you can plant in a raised bed! If you've just begun to learn gardening, we suggest that you start with crops that are easy to grow, like cucumbers, lettuce, or tomatoes. You could even add some herbs.
It's natural to want maximum productivity from your raised bed, but be careful of overcrowding it with plants. Begin with a few to determine the minimum space requirements for your growing plants. It would help if you were careful when you begin the planting process.
Depending upon the type of plant, it's best to avoid planting during winter, especially when there's the possibility of frost. However, some plants like carrots and broccoli can tolerate cooler temperatures. Plants usually thrive in moderate temperatures such as 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tending to Your Garden
Once you've planted your crops, you need to ensure tending to them consistently. Raised garden beds help to save time in garden care. Minimize weeds by hoeing between rows, mulching, or weeding by hand. Tend to weeds consistently because that reduces the chances of the weeds taking root and becoming a nuisance.
A raised bed allows the soil to remain wet for a long time, so you don't have to water your garden that frequently. It's best to water your garden at least once a week during summers. It depends on what plants you're growing and where you live, so keep that in mind.
Your life will be much easier if you can afford automatic sprinklers. If this is the first time you're setting up a garden, check out this article on how to properly water plants.
Apart from watering and weeding, you need to provide fertilizer for your garden. Use dry amendments or liquid nutrients for this. This guide on plant nutrients and pH will be beneficial in this regard.
The Favorable Height for a Raised Garden Bed
An important thing to remember is that the deeper the depth, the more resistant your garden bed will be resistant to weeds. Raised garden beds that are higher above the ground are easier to tend. The ideal depth for most gardeners is 12-18 inches.
Cost-Effective Ways of Filling a Raised Garden Bed
There are lots of ways in which you can fill up your garden without emptying your bank account. You can supplement the soil by adding some compost that you can make at home. Not only will you save up on money, but you'll also be giving your plants additional nutrients.
The "hügelkultur" method is another cost-effective method of filling your garden bed. You use large amounts of organic matter found at the bottom of a water body (like rotting sticks, debris, rotten logs). It will result in a sponge that will supply nutrients to your plants and hold water well. Further, rotting wood can be an excellent substitute for soil.
Buying a Raised Garden Bed
Building a raised garden bed is not everyone's cup of tea. If you are not the DIY type, buying a raised garden bed is the best option.
Additionally, you'll save up on time and energy. Therefore, you might even save up on money because you won't need much space to install one of these beds.
Smart Pot Long Bed
The Smart Pot Long Bed is a great option. It provides 3.1 sq. ft. of growing space, and there's no installation required. It quickly warms up during springtime.
Further, the bed is very conducive to the health of your plants. Rather than wood, it is fabric-made and hence is relatively cost-effective. In comparison, it is easier to build than a wooden raised bed.
Final Thoughts
Now you know everything you need to know about building a raised garden bed. All you need to do to find all the parts and just start building it.
Growing your plants in a raised bed is one of the best ways to utilize the space you're using to grow. It doesn't take much experience or knowledge, just some creativity. So with GroIndoor.com get your raised bed garden now!