The Benefits of Raised Garden Beds
While seemingly a new concept raised garden beds have been used by ancient cultures dating to 300 BC. Pre-Hispanic cultures in South America from Columbia to Bolivia employed the raised bed method waru waru to prevent erosion and improve irrigation. Today, raised garden beds have a dedicated fan base. And for a good reason. This type of gardening is useful in both rural and urban areas and solves all sorts of gardening challenges. Whether you have sprawling acres or a tiny backyard plot, raised beds could work for you. Have you been thinking about creating this type of garden? Read on for the benefits of raised garden beds.
1. No Tilling
Traditional in-ground gardening involves tilling up the soil every year to remove rocks, weeds and add organic fertilizers. When using raised beds the compost, mulches, manures, and other soil conditioners can go directly on top and gently worked into the soil. So, no backbreaking work. Furthermore, repeated tilling year after year tends to deplete soil structure.
Therefore, with raised beds, the soil does its own tilling as worms and roots work their way through.
2. Saves Your Back
It’s no secret that weeding a garden can do a number on your back and knees. Raised beds resolve this issue, especially in designs that are around 12 inches tall. Not only will this help to save your back, but it could also allow youngsters better access so they can help out too!
3. Aesthetically Pleasing, But Practical Too
While it’s true that raised beds look neat and clean, there is a practical side as well:
- Raised beds help keep your garden organized.
- Raised beds allow you to identify where all your vegetables are located.
- Raised beds create safe walkways.
- Raised beds allow for easy access for harvesting vegetables.
4. Helps Keep Out Critters
Deer, rabbits, birds, and squirrels can create havoc in a garden. Raised beds allow you the opportunity to incorporate different types of fencing, bird barriers, and row covers. Furthermore, you can install hardware cloth on the bottom of your bed which stops groundhogs from stealing root crops. Lastly, some gardeners swear that installing copper flashing around the sides of the beds keeps slugs out of the garden.
5. Better Drainage
In areas prone to flooding, raised beds offer the perfect drainage solution. Consider that if your foundations are about a foot off the ground, they have extra breathing room above wet conditions. Even if your yard doesn’t have drainage issues, raised beds are beneficial in that they help protect plants from heavy rains.
6. Fewer Weeds and Crab Grass
Tilling the ground allows for weeds to propagate. Raised beds will enable you to utilize mulch, cardboard or gardening cloth after the season to prevent weeds for future seasons. Prevent crabgrass from creeping into your garden with beds that are at least 10 inches high.
7. Plant Earlier in the Season
The theory is that due to better drainage and untilled soil you can plant earlier because the soild dries faster and warms more quickly than planting directly in the ground.
8. Can Be Temporary
If you are renting, and have always wanted a garden, raised beds could fulfill your desire. In the city, can install a box on a fence or a retaining wall, build a bed on a terrace or balcony. In a single home, a neat and tidy raised bed will not destroy a lawn. When you move, simply take the box down, spread out the soil and plant grass seed.
9. Avoid Contaminated Soil
Urban gardeners may be at a higher risk of soil containing high levels of heavy metals, including lead. Many vegetables absorb heavy metals from the earth, increasing your risk of ingesting the harmful contaminants. Raised beds provide the opportunity to bring in new enriched, healthy soil. You can further reduce concentrations of contamination with compost.
10. Excellent for Beginners
Raised beds provide an easy way to start gardening. While they may be a bit of an investment upfront, raised beds are easier to control. Hence, gardening novices experience greater success.
Raised garden beds offer many benefits for both the experienced and novice gardener. Have you always wanted to design and build raised beds? Sneade’s has everything you need to get started. From wood to tools, to soil and seed, our garden center has it all! Our experienced staff can help you sort out everything you need. In as little as a weekend, you can create a beautiful and beneficial raised garden bed.
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