Hilling Garden Plants

Hilling plants is a great garden technique. This technique is used in early spring to improve cold, wet soils. It promotes faster and more successful seed germination.

Here are the major benefits of hilling plants:

First, the elevated soil warms quicker than the surrounding garden soil. Hilling allows more soil exposure to the warming rays of the sun and the air. This allows you to begin your planting season earlier. It can also translate into extra days of gardening in the fall.

Secondly, excess moisture can drain off and away from seeds and plants. Cold, heavy spring rains that rot seeds and drown roots of your seedlings, can be minimized or avoided by hilling a raised bed.   

Hilled soil, or raised bed soil, is less compacted, making air pockets and nutrients more accessible to your plants. The looser soil allows your plants to more readily spread through the hill, and grow a larger, healthier root system. 

In drier areas, hilling may not be desired, as much-needed water can drain away. But you can always add water. It’s more difficult to take it away.

Gardening Tip: When hilling plants, bury a healthy amount of compost under the soil of the hill. Your plants will thank you!