Raised Bed Gardens
Your flowers and vegetables will be amazingly attractive, when they make
themselves at home inside of an attractive raised bed garden frame!
Raised bed gardening is a great way to grow almost all of your favorite flowers,
herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Aesthetically pleasing, raised bed gardens
offer many advantages to both you, and your plants.
The prettiest and best kept gardens, are grown in these beds. There is something
about a raising the level of the garden bed, that make gardeners more conscious
about the appearance and health of their favorite plants.
Did You Know? Raised bed frames do not have a bottom. Plants need
to send their root system deep, often much deeper than the height of the
raised bed frame.
Benefits of Raised Bed Gardens: Plants grown in elevated garden beds,
are bigger, better, healthier, and more productive. There are several reason
why:
Warmer soil- The soil inside the bed frame is elevated above ground
level, allowing the sun and air to warm it faster. This facilitates earlier
planting, and better seed germination, especially in colder, more northern
climates.
Easy to reach- Less bending over and stretching, making the joy of
working in your garden and harvesting easier, and far more pleasurable. People
with back or knee problems, handicaps, and elderly people really appreciate
the ease of access to the garden.
Good drainage- Soil in the garden bed frame is above ground level.
Heavy rains drain off. Soggy, standing water is eliminated.
Improved soil quality - Sure, you can use soil from the surrounding
area. But, people with raised garden beds bring in as much as 100% of the
soil, including plenty of rich compost and manure, to fill the bed frame.
This rich soil mixture, is a vast improvement over normal garden soil. Growers
seek a soil mix and pH level, that is ideal for
the plants they grow in the beds.
Appearance- These garden beds create attractive gardens. People who
use raised bed frames, take much better care of their garden .
How to make Flower and Vegetable Raised Garden Beds:
The frame can be made from landscape timbers, railroad ties, two by tens,
concrete blocks or just about any other durable and strong material that
will hold soil. Even an old tractor trailer tire can be used. Years ago,
this was in common. Make sure the frame is sturdy enough to hold soil. Anchor
the sides from collapsing outward, if needed. The bottom should be open.
If you are using a box or container of any kind, remove the bottom to provide
good drainage. Do not line the bottom of the frame with plastic.
Tip: Make sure the width of the bed frame is no more than two arms
lengths deep, about four feet. This allows you to reach any part of the garden,
without stretching or climbing across the frame and plants.
Garden bed soil -
You can use regular garden soil. But, it is best to make a soil mixture that
is ideal for the plants you are planning to grow. If the bed is really high,
use soil from the surrounding area at the bottom.
Drip hose- A drip hose makes the bed more maintenance free and efficient.
Add it at, or just below, the soil level . Make sure to work it in a pattern
that evenly covers the entire area inside the raised bed.
Mulch- Make your raised bed almost maintenance free. Use plastic mulch
to keep weeds out. For appearance, top the plastic with organic mulch.
Tip: Be creative. Make a series of smaller beds. Landscape around
the beds with stone, mulch. Add paving blocks or stepping stones.
Raised Bed Garden Soil:
One of the best things about having a raised bed frame in your garden, is
the soil you put into it. Here is where gardeners excel.
Begin by filling your garden bed with lots of compost. Most raised beds contain
far more compost than the garden itself. While you will want to add ample
amounts of compost, and some decomposed manure, you should also mix in some
regular garden soil.
Much more on raised garden soil
Tip: After filling and mixing the soil in your raised bed frame, check
the soil pH. The materials you use in the frame, may need an adjustment,
to attain an ideal pH level for your plants.
More on Soil pH
See our Soil Testers now!!
Raised Bed Boards
Raised beds are made of almost any material. Perhaps you've seen an old car
or truck tire, filled with soil and flowers. This is indeed a raised bed
planter.
Most raised bed frames are constructed of either wood or plastic. Both can
be attractive and effective. Wood is less expensive, but does not last long.
They rot and lose their clean and neat appearance. Applying paints, stains
or pressure treated wood, can extend the life of the wood boards. But, they
can leach chemicals into the soil.
Plastic boards last a long, long time. While they cost more, they are cheaper
over time.
A word about- - Orca boards. (People have asked.) These were plastic
boards. We believe the manufacturer went out of business during the recession.
Buy Guarden Raised Garden Bed Frames Attractive, long
lasting and affordable. Guarden raised bed frames are the strongest in the
industry. A greenhouse system can be added, too.
Buy Flower, Vegetable and Herb Seeds Ferry Morse,
Livingston and Lilly Miller seeds. For the very best garden, choose these
top brands.
Garden Scooter - Perfect, for use with raised beds! |
