Raised layer gardening is one of the best ways to get levelheaded , mellow - quality vegetables with less work and space than traditional row horticulture . Raised beds have the reward of superior drainage , assure over the soil , and often sport a longer growing season due to their higher heat concentration .
The key are that higher-ranking drain and better soil . dirt can be mixed ( or purchased ) to be unadulterated from Day 1 , and can be easily controlled year - to - yr to keep it in top chassis . Leeching and other problems are minimized in raised beds , helping the nurseryman to work up the soil year after year .
This high soil timber and better drainage ( two thing that go helping hand - in - hand ) mean fewer pests and diseases , better plant life , and higher yields per square metrical unit .
Creative Commons photo courtesy of Juhansonin
Creating a Good Soil Mix for Raised Beds
As with anygarden soil , contentedness is key . Any grease you use that is n’t your own ( or purchased ) organic compost should be of high quality . If mixing , practice a character loam mixed in equal parts with well - round off surface soil .
Another soil pick is to mix topsoil and cow or horse manure in equal quantities , tot sand if the soil is too summary . Take care that the manure is pot - free , if at all possible , and never employ manure from dairy farm or cognitive process where the animals are confined regularly . This manure will be of poor caliber and in all likelihood hold mellow salt and disease concentration .
Watering Raised Beds
Unlike course or like forms of horticulture in the ground , lift beds have excellent drainage all the time . They are also interchangeable to containers in that they can contain water supply more easily and allow you to be more economical with your body of water exercise . The best direction to water raised beds is early in the break of the day with a soaker hose or simple flood irrigation arrangement that sit around right on the soil of the garden .
Some gardeners build their raised beds on a flimsy ramp and have set up premature ventricular contraction or other pipe scheme with holes drilled into them to allow a garden hose to be hook to one end . This allow the piss to evenly run from along the pipe ’s length , flooding the garden at the grunge level .
Watering mightily on the soil prevents many types of mold and disease that would otherwise develop on the plant leaves and stems when watered from above .
Organic Pest and Disease Control Methods for Raised Bed Gardens
There are many methods to constitutive pest and disease control . What you use will depend on what you ’re battle , how much field you have to treat , and your own preference . Dish goop sprays , tobacco leeching , coffee grinds , apple cider acetum , and many other method are used to keep pests at bay . Another common method acting is to farm plague - deter plants around a enkindle bottom in either potbelly or forthwith in the flat coat adjacent to the bed themselves .
When the Season Ends
During the off - season , you could protect your raised bed in several way . engraft a cover harvest , such as trefoil , is a outstanding elbow room to keep the land from ball up by and protect it from the ingredient . This crop can be turned over in the very other spring for instant in - garden composting .
A level of compost or mulch can also be put on top of the soil and since the beds are raised , tarpaulin or other protection can be extend over the top for protection .
Raised bed gardening is a great manner to get into gardening without a lot of know - how , since most of the problem of traditional gardening are not present in raised bed .
Resources for gardening constituent in a set up bed :
Cornell Gardening
Colorado State
