Do you want to decide how to plant your garden this year? You may have heard that many people are using raised garden beds instead of traditional garden methods. They have some good reasons for doing so. In this article, Savana will let you know 10 reasons why you should choose raised bed gardening for your plants this year.
You may also hear people call raised beds garden boxes. Simply put, raised bed means that the soil is lifted onto the surrounding soil and enclosed in a frame made of wood, metal, rock, concrete blocks or other creative methods. An raised bed is different from a garden flowerpot. The flowerpot is an overhead container with a bottom to prevent the soil from falling. The raised bed has no bottom.
1. Less Strain
One of the advantages of using an raised garden bed is that it reduces the pressure on the back and knees. Who doesn't like such benefits! This is because the walls of the raised bed are at least 6 inches to 1 foot high, so you don't have to stoop when working in the garden. If you make the bed 4 feet away, you will find it easier to work in the garden.
We also like the idea of using a few inches of building materials, so we will also have a very comfortable rest area. We can pull up weeds, check our vegetable growth and plant health, and sit comfortably rather than hunchback. This will make your work in the garden more enjoyable, especially when you have trouble moving.
You can really be creative when building garden beds. If necessary, the bed can be raised to a standing height. I saw some tables turn into garden beds. You can even put wheels on them so they can move. Be creative and do what you feel comfortable with. Of course, some people may argue that these are flower pots rather than flower beds. This is really just semantics. The raised garden bed has no bottom.
2. Opportunity
With the raised garden bed, no matter where you live, everyone has the opportunity to open a garden. Raised bed gardening really became popular because people began to realize the fact that you don't have to own acres of fertile land to have a productive garden. Even if outdoor space is limited or you can only use paved surfaces, you can still become a successful gardener and use raised garden beds.
The key to using flower beds on sidewalks is to ensure that they are horizontal, not submerged by water, and have enough organic matter so that they can absorb water. The use of mulch is also a requirement for any garden bed. Your mulch can be straw, hay, sawdust or pine bark. The mulch will restrain weeds and keep soil moisture.
Of course, raised garden beds are ideally placed on bare soil. If you are building on a hard surface such as concrete or sidewalk, be sure to build the garden bed to a depth of at least 18 inches. This allows enough space for the roots to grow and stay healthy. In an raised garden bed built on bare soil, the depth of the bed may not need to be that deep, because the root can also extend into the ground soil.
3. Early Planting
At the end of winter, most gardeners can't wait to plant seeds in the field. If you live in a cold climate, such as the northern part of the United States, you may get used to shorter growing seasons. In Idaho, for example, the growing season is estimated to be 167 days. This is compared with parts of California, which are estimated to have a growth time of about 300 days. This is a big difference, so you can understand why early broadcasting is very attractive!
In winter, the ground freezes and takes a long time to warm up. One advantage of garden beds is that the soil in them is often warmer than the ground soil, which means earlier planting and longer garden seasons. If you are used to the short growing season and want to see your garden start early in spring, this is good news!
The soil that freezes in winter takes some time to warm up. At first it was a slow process. An raised bed filled with balanced soil composition will effectively drain water and retain the heat of the sun. This is why the raised garden bed allows you to start your garden earlier than the traditional garden.
When the soil temperature is kept at 44.5 ° F (7 ° C) at all times, cold resistant plants such as lettuce, radish and peas can be planted. You can also try using black plastic to help heat the soil and dry it slightly. One technique is to place your garden beds so they can take full advantage of the midday sun without being obscured by trees or large structures.
4. Less Weeds
Raised garden beds reduce the amount of weeds that need to be pulled out this garden season. There are many reasons for this, but to put it simply, it is because of the design of the garden bed. Let we explain. You should first clean the floor where your garden bed will be placed. This at least involves removing any grass and weeds from the topsoil. It is best to plough the ground 18 inches and remove the rocks.
In addition to starting with a clean surface, many people also choose to spread newspapers, cardboard, landscape fabrics or hard cloth under the garden bed to prevent anything from growing out again. Newspapers and cardboard will eventually rot and provide nutrients for plants.
Then spread nutrient rich soil on the garden bed. Any weeds can be easily pulled out, because the soil is very good and loose. Please remember, pulling out the weeds will not hurt your back, because you will not stoop to reach them.
5. Rodent Prevention
What rodents are you used to destroying vegetables in the tunnel under the garden? Many rodents belong to this group. The list includes voles, moles, ground squirrels, or any other terrestrial rodents. With an raised garden bed, you can easily prevent rodent attacks.
When you plan your garden bed, you need to think ahead, but it is very easy. I suggest putting wire mesh on the bottom of the bed first, then filling it with mud, and extending it a few inches outside the bed to protect it. If you are not used to dealing with burrowing rodents, you can skip this step. However, if this is your first time gardening or you are trying a new place, I strongly recommend that you take the initiative and place barbed wire at the bottom of the garden bed.
You don't want to pull down your bed to lay the wires afterwards. This may become a long process.
6. Loose Soil
Loose soil allows the roots of plants to grow freely and grow healthy plants. This can be achieved if you carefully design raised garden beds and fill them with a healthy soil mixture. When you design garden beds, make sure you can easily reach them. In most cases, this means no more than 4 feet. Sometimes you might want them to be smaller than this.
The reason why you don't want them to be too wide is that you never have to enter them for any planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting, etc. You just want to put your hand in, not let your whole body go in. If you walk around on your carefully selected light, loose soil, your garden bed will begin to compact. Compacting the soil makes the roots more difficult to penetrate and makes plants weaker and less healthy.
However, if your bed is too wide and you have to lie in it for some reason, please do not worry. There is a solution. Just take a board, put it on your garden bed, and walk on it. This will prevent dirt from compacting.
7. Good Drainage
If you use traditional garden methods, one thing you must consider is your garden drainage. With raised garden beds, this problem is solved. I like to solve so many gardening problems simply by choosing to use elevated beds for gardening.
The raised garden bed allows the water in the soil to be discharged freely, so as to provide sufficient air for the roots of plants. If you have extra water or accumulated water, it will suffocate your crops. Although plants have different drainage requirements, few people can tolerate stagnant water. Healthy roots mean healthier plants.
When choosing a well drained soil for your garden bed, remember that soil rich in organic matter and nutrients will provide you with the best results. Potting soil is not a good choice because it drains too quickly. Also pay attention to how much fertilizer is added to the soil mixture, because the nitrogen content in the fertilizer is very high. Too much nitrogen may hinder the growth of fruit. A simple soil test using a home test kit like this is a good way to find out what modifications you need to make to the soil. It can test soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content at a cost of about $15.
8. Organized
Being organized is one of the best things you can do to ensure that you have a successful garden this year. Raised bed gardening can help you achieve this goal.
Another benefit you will notice when using raised garden beds is the way the entire yard is organized. I like organization, so maybe that's why I really like it. There is open space around and between your garden bed. It is best to leave at least 2-3 feet between beds. This will give you enough space to move back and forth or push the wheel barrel through.
By using a raised garden bed for grooming, you will also appreciate that your plants will not be trampled by children playing or animals roaming around.
9. Prevent Soil Erosion
This is not a problem that can be taken lightly. Preventing soil erosion by using raised garden beds can be an important selling point, especially if you live in an area where it rains often. Many gardeners have to deal with the problem of their soil being washed away, which means that gardeners need to do more work. And don't forget the extra cost of buying more soil.
I think it is obvious that both sides of your garden bed can prevent your valuable garden soil from being eroded or washed away in heavy rain. Although wood is the most common choice, it is not your only choice. Some people choose to use stones or cement blocks beside their beds. But remember their weight. If you want to move the garden bed at some time, this may cause inconvenience.
If there are grooves or open spaces on both sides of the bed, it is better to lay plastic cloth on both sides. This will prevent the soil from escaping from these spaces. Also, don't forget to level your raised bed in all directions. If it is not level, rainwater or water in the garden hose may flow out of the bed instead of seeping into the ground. You don't want this to happen, because the water that flows away will also take away your good soil, leaving behind the ditches that you need to fill.
10. Attractive
This may be one of the main reasons why some gardeners choose raised garden beds! The raised garden bed is so cool! You can use your creativity and imagination to design garden beds of any shape! Some people choose to use them to decorate their yard and turn their garden into a center. Follow some basic rules, such as keeping them under 4 feet, but design ideas crazily!
