Overview
- Raised beds are great for growing a garden in areas with heavy soil, poor water drainage, or soil that might contain undesireable contaminants. They also make it easy to keep the garden neat and tidy. In order to access the bed from both sides, the width of a raised bed should not be more than about 6 feet. If you only have access from one side, make the bed no wider than 3 feet. Otherwise, it can be difficult to reach to the middle of the bed.
- Raised beds can be very productive and attractive alternatives to gardening in the soil. They generally offer higher yields in less space and they are easier to keep weed free. The soil is usually amended with organic matter and allows for frequent soil improvements because it is a clearly defined area where you can concentrate your effort. As well, if your soil is heavy and poorly drained, productivity can be severely limited. Raised beds can solve the problems created by heavy and poorly drained soil, and thus improve your garden's productivity.
- Raised beds allow for earlier planting because the soil warms earlier in the spring and they can be covered easily with floating row covers to protect from winter frost or to reduce the light intensity in the summer. Lastly, raised beds can be designed to enable people who have difficulty working in soil to garden more comfortably.
Read more about: Bed size | Orientation | Construction | Adding soil to raised beds |
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