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Gardening is a rewarding hobby that not only provides fresh produce but also promotes healthy living. One of the keys to successful gardening is choosing the right planting method, and raised garden beds offer several advantages over traditional in-ground gardening.
With numerous benefits ranging from easier maintenance to higher crop yields, it is easy to see why they have become so popular. Whether you have a small or large backyard, you can enhance your gardening experience with raised garden beds.
Read on to explore some of the key advantages of using raised garden beds and how you can start your raised garden beds and transform your gardening experience. You might also enjoy reading: What To Plant With Tomatoes In Raised Bed: 23 Best Tomato Companion Plants.
What Is a Raised Bed Garden?
Raised beds are generally 6 to 8 inches (15.24 to 20.32 cm) high, 36 to 72 inches (91.44 to 182.9 cm) wide, and 72 to 96 inches (182.88 to 243.84 cm) long. A raised bed structure can be aluminum, wood, brick, rot-resistant lumber, landscape timbers, concrete blocks, masonry, or other building material (Source: The University of Georgia)
Also, raised beds can vary in size depending on the gardening site, your preferences, and the materials used in their construction. Also, if you want to make your rated beds more accessible to people with difficulty bending or stooping, you can use blocks or bricks to elevate them above the ground.
What Are The Benefits of Raised Garden Beds?
Raised bed gardens are a perfect way to grow vegetables and small fruit. One of the major benefits of raised garden beds is that the soil does not get compacted because the soil where plants are grown is never walked on (Source: Oklahoma State University)
Here are the benefits of raised garden beds:
1- Improved And Better Soil Quality
One of the key benefits of using raised garden beds is better soil quality because the soil in raised beds is often a mix of compost, sand, and topsoil and is filled to a specific depth, resulting in fertile and well-draining soil that promotes plant growth.
With traditional in-ground gardening, the soil may be compacted or hard, making it difficult for plants to grow. By using raised garden beds, you can mix in organic matter such as compost, mulch, or topsoil to create looser and nutrient-rich soil, which ensures that your plants will get optimal drainage and access to the necessary nutrients to thrive.
Experts gardeners from the University of New Hampshire recommend adding no more than 50% organic matter with 10 to 20% compost of the total soil volume. Furthermore, raised garden beds also allow for easier pest control and less soil compaction due to no treading, denser planting, and less walking on the soil.
2- Easier Access and Maintenance
Raised garden beds can make gardening easier and more accessible, particularly for those with physical limitations. Generally, raised garden beds are often built at a height that eliminates the need for bending or kneeling, which can help prevent back strain and other injuries.
Gardeners with physical limitations can enjoy the benefits of gardening by being able to work at a comfortable height. I like that raised beds can be constructed to any height to fit the gardener’s needs.
In addition, raised garden beds usually have a smaller surface area, making it easier to weed and water your plants without damaging them. You can also add trellises or other supports to your raised garden beds for vertical gardening, which can save space and increase your yield.
3- Greater Weed Control
Gardeners often struggle with weed control, which can rob plants of nutrients and water. Generally, raised garden beds help in weed control as it is easier to identify and remove them in raised beds than in traditional gardens.
Gardeners tend to keep raised garden beds more organized and neat, which makes it simpler to spot any weeds or invasive plants.
4- Versatility in Gardening
Raised garden beds offer gardeners great versatility in planting. With the ability to manage soil and drainage, gardeners can produce plants that would not thrive in traditional gardens.
Raised garden beds can be used for growing vegetables, flowers, or herbs. Additionally, raised garden beds offer the option of interplanting, companion planting, and crop rotation, which can be difficult to achieve in traditional gardening.
5- Improved Drainage
One of the biggest drawbacks of traditional in-ground gardening is poor drainage, which can lead to root rot and other plant diseases.
Raised garden beds can help prevent poor drainage, as they are usually built with a drainage system that allows excess water to drain away from the plants. This means that your plants will not be sitting in waterlogged soil, which can cause root damage and stunted growth.
According to the University of New Hampshire, raised beds are usually more productive than beds in the ground because the soil has better drainage and is less compacted.
6- Pest Control
Raised garden beds can also offer better pest control because they help to contain your garden in a defined area, making it easier to monitor for pests and prevent them from spreading.
Moreover, you can add physical barriers such as fencing or netting to keep pests such as squirrels, rabbits, and deer from accessing your plants.
7- Longer Growing Season
If the soil is adequately prepared, generally raised beds warm up fast in the spring and drain better, which allows for a longer growing season and better-growing conditions.
If you live in the south of the United States, an adequately prepared raised bed helps your plant roots to breathe and have a longer growing season.
8- Raised Beds Offer Higher Yields
With raised-bed vegetables, you can plant at higher densities. For example, you can grow your vegetables far enough apart to prevent crowding but close enough to shade weeds, resulting in more produce per square foot (Source: University of Florida)
In addition, if your raised bed is higher enough above the ground, you will have fewer pests, including nematode problems: the more pests, the lower your yield; the fewer pests, the higher your yields.
9- Aesthetic Appeal
Gardening in raised beds can be a great way of adding beauty and aesthetic appeal to your outdoor living space. Raised garden beds may open up a new front of design possibilities; they can be designed with customized, natural, and fresh looks.
Generally, raised garden beds offer aesthetic appeal to your yard or garden because they come in different sizes, styles, and materials, such as wood, metal, or plastic, which can add a decorative element to your outdoor space.
Plus, raised garden beds can help to create visually distinct garden areas, which can improve the overall look and feel of your garden.
What Are The Disadvantages of Raised Garden Beds?
Even though raised beds can be an excellent choice for anyone looking to grow vegetables, raised garden beds have a few drawbacks. The main disadvantages are that raised garden beds require a high initial construction cost and more frequent watering (Source: University of New Hampshire)
What to read next:
- 6 Reasons Why Hunter Boots Are Great for Gardening.
- 9 Best Vegetables You Can Grow in the Shade in Texas.
- 11 Trees Similar to Olive Trees And Their Characteristics.
Wrapping Up
Raised garden beds provide numerous benefits that will transform your gardening experience. Whether you are starting a new garden or improving an existing one, raised beds are practical, versatile, and appealing, making it easier to get more from your garden.
With better soil quality, improved drainage, easier access and maintenance, better pest control, greater weed control, and more versatility in gardening, gardeners worldwide are reaping the numerous advantages of raised garden beds while also enjoying the many health benefits of gardening.
So, why not give raised garden beds a try in your backyard and see the difference for yourself?
