FEATURE
RAISED BED gardening
provides easy access and increased productivity
By Melinda Myers Syndicated Gardening Columnist
Raise your garden to new heights for easier access and greater productivity . Raised beds allow you to overcome poor soil by creating the ideal growing mix . They also make gardening more comfortable thanks to less bending and kneeling .
Whether you purchase a kit or build your own , there are a few things to consider when creating a raised bed garden .
Locate the garden in a sunny area if possible . Most plants require at least six hours of sun , and vegetables like tomatoes , peppers and melons produce best with a full day of sunlight .
Select a long-lasting material such as interlocking block , fieldstone , plastic lumber or naturally long-lasting wood like cedar . The material selected will influence the shape and size of your garden . Some materials allow for curved beds while others are limited to squares , rectangles , and other angular shapes .
Design your raised bed to fit your space and your needs . A three- or four-feet width makes it easy to reach all parts of the garden for planting , weeding , and harvesting . Raising your planting bed at least eight to twelve inches improves drainage and provides an adequate space for most plants to root and grow . If you want to minimize bending , go higher . Add benches to increase your gardening comfort and ease .
Roughen or loosen the existing soil surface if your bed is built on compact , slow-draining soil . This will allow water to readily move from the raised bed into the soil below . Cover the bottom of the bed with newspaper or cardboard , if needed , to suffocate existing weeds and grass .
Line the bottom of your raised bed with hardware cloth to reduce the risk of animals burrowing into your garden . Lay the hardware cloth over the ground and bend it up along the inside of the raised bed walls .
Fill the bed with a quality growing mix that is well drained but also able to retain moisture and nutrients . This may be a mixture of quality topsoil and compost , a high-quality potting mix , or a planting mix designed specifically for raised bed gardens .
Grow any plants that you normally would grow in ground . Just make sure the plants are suited to the growing conditions – sunlight , heat , and wind – in your area . Since the soil mix and drainage is ideal in a raised garden , you will be able to grow more plants per square foot . Just be sure to leave sufficient room for plants to reach their mature size .
Keep your plants healthy and productive with proper watering . This is critical for growing any garden , but even more crucial in a fast draining raised bed . The simple act of raising the garden height increases drainage , and a raised bed filled with planting mix means more frequent watering . Consider using drip irrigation or soaker hoses for watering ease . Always water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry .
Add some mulch to help reduce watering and the need for other garden maintenance . Spread a layer of evergreen needles , pine straw , shredded leaves , or other organic matter over the soil surface . This helps conserve moisture , suppresses weeds and adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil as it decomposes . You ’ ll spend less time watering and weeding throughout the season .
Add an organic fertilizer at planting if your planting mix does not already contain one . Apply again mid-season if the plants need a nutrient boost . Always follow the label directions on the fertilizer container .
The time and effort invested in creating raised beds will be returned many times over with years of healthy and productive gardens .
• Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books , including The Midwest Gardener ’ s Handbook , 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening . She hosts The Great Courses “ How to Grow Anything ” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda ’ s Garden Moment TV & radio program . Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine . Her web site is www . melindamyers . com . www . meridianstar . com
• 11