Raised Beds

Raised beds are the most convenient way to garden. They are easy to work in and you can control the quality of soil, they require less weeding and make tending and harvesting easier. Plants get a quicker start in raised beds because the soil warms up earlier than it does in ground-level beds. The soil stays lighter and more aerated because it isn't compacted from foot traffic, so root systems grow faster and bigger.

Consider a raised bed if you live in an area where the soil is rocky or mostly sand or clay. Adding organic matter to your soil is always a good idea and will always help make poor soil better. But sometimes a raised bed is the best solution.

You can choose the soil in your raised bed. You can purchase rich garden soil at the garden centre or you can make your own by taking native soil from nearby and amending it with well-rotted manure and compost until it is rich and loamy.



The soil in a raised bed warms more quickly in spring that’s good in short season and cool coastal regions. A raised bed also can be made tall enough to aid a back tired after years of bending. And the width of a raised bed will allow you to work your vegetable bed from different sides.



A bed width of no more than 4 feet (1.2 m) will allow easy access from each side. You don’t have to worry about soil compaction with a raised bed. All of your gardening is done from the edge. You can bring a chair, stool, or wheelchair to the edge of a raised bed. The more narrow the bed, the easier it is to reach into the bed without having to lean on the soil.

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