Taking Care Of An Elevated Garden Bed?

Raised bed gardening is a popular choice among gardeners due to its benefits, including the ability to grow vegetables in a variety of ways. To create a successful raised garden bed, consider the scale of your property, choose a location with full sun and shade in the afternoon, use quality materials like cedar or galvanized steel for long-lasting, weather-resistant beds, layer the soil, think about water, time your harvests, and provide protection.

There are several tips for growing a successful raised garden bed, such as choosing the right location, material, arranging plants by height, watering at the roots, using lightweight materials, and creating a raised garden bed with wood, fabric, or bricks. Additionally, learn how to fill a raised garden bed with rich soil for herbs, vegetables, and flowers, and care tips for building and maintaining it.

Caring for your raised garden involves watering your garden by hand using a watering wand or installing drip irrigation (tubing or tape) at the beginning of the season. Drip tape works best for linear beds but can be used in beds of other shapes. Seeding is also essential, especially if you are filling the bottom with sticks or shredded leaves to save on watering.

Filling your raised bed to the top is key for new raised beds, especially if you are filling the bottom with sticks or shredded leaves to save on watering. The ideal soil for raised garden beds is 1/2 top soil and 1/2 compost.

In summary, raised bed gardening offers numerous benefits, including the ability to grow vegetables in a variety of ways, the importance of proper soil management, and the importance of leveling the bed in all directions.

How to tend to a raised garden bed?

Plant strong young plants from Bonnie Plants® in your beds for a jumpstart with vegetables and herbs. Start with great soil, such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Raised Bed Mix, which holds moisture well, has air pockets, and is rich in organic matter. If you have an existing raised bed garden, use Miracle-Gro® Refresh™ Soil Revitalizer to revive old soil and replenish nutrients.

Water when soil is dry, as raised beds tend to drain more quickly than in-ground soil due to gravity. Check the soil often and water when the top inch is dry. You can use a watering can, hose, or smart watering devices like the Gro™ Garden Sprayer paired with the Gro™ Water Sensor Starter Kit. The sensor sends an alert to your phone when your plants are thirsty, and you can turn on the spigot to deliver water where it’s most needed.

In summary, growing plants in a raised bed garden doesn’t require expertise, but following these six simple steps can help you get started.

Do raised beds need new soil every year?

To maintain optimal plant health in raised beds, it is recommended to incorporate Miracle-Gro® Refresh™ Soil Revitalizer into existing soil prior to the subsequent growing season. This product, formulated with specific ingredients, restores soil structure, renews water retention, and replenishes essential nutrients, thereby ensuring a healthy and vibrant garden.

Should I add topsoil to my raised bed?

In scenario 4, raised beds on hard surfaces like driveways should be at least 8 inches deep for leafy greens, beans, cucumbers, and 12-24 inches deep for pepper, tomato, and squash. These beds may dry out quickly and may be subject to extra stress from absorbed and reflected sunlight. To maintain the soil, fill the bed with compost and a soilless growing mix in a 1:1 ratio. Topsoil can be added for beds at least 16 inches deep. For Scenarios 1-3, add pathway soil using existing soil from between the beds.

Cover 2-ft. wide pathways around the raised beds with newspaper or weed barrier to kill vegetation, and dig up the top 2-3 inches of soil and dead vegetation. If time is limited, slice through the vegetation horizontally and compost the weeds and grass.

What should I line my raised garden bed with?

It is recommended that a layer of landscape fabric or cloth fabric from clothing be placed within the raised bed to provide durability and soil protection. It is advisable to avoid the use of non-porous plastic, as it has the potential to retain water and thereby discourage beneficial insects and worms. This makes it a less sustainable option.

How to rejuvenate a raised bed garden?

The implementation of regular compost applications and the incorporation of cover crops can facilitate the aeration of raised garden beds, thereby enhancing water retention and drainage. However, disrupting the soil web formed by the soil can result in soil compaction.

Should I put plastic in the bottom of my raised garden bed?

Avoid using plastic liners on raised garden beds to prevent drainage and water overflow. Instead, use metal mesh and fabric or hardware cloth and cardboard to address weed and pest issues. If you need help with raised garden beds, The Grounds Guys offers lawn and bed maintenance services. This allows you to focus on enjoying your garden and lessens the workload. Request a free estimate today to learn more about their services.

Should I put fabric on bottom of raised garden bed?

Landscape fabric serves as a raised bed liner to prevent soil erosion and minimize nutrient loss risk. It helps maintain water-soluble nutrients from the soil, preventing water from gushing out too quickly. To make installation easier, you can buy materials separately or use bundles like the landscape fabric and heavy-duty staple bundle, which includes 3″ x 50″ weed barrier landscape fabric with 8 or 11 gauge staples. This makes building a raised bed garden more efficient and cost-effective.

What should you fill a raised garden bed with?

When filling a raised garden bed, consider adding organic matter like compost, well-rotted manure, and aged compost to improve soil structure, fertility, and moisture retention. Adjust the amount based on soil test results and plant needs. Adding a layer of gravel or rocks to the bottom for drainage is generally unnecessary and can create a perched water table. Instead, focus on using well-draining soil mixtures and incorporating adequate drainage methods.

Replenish or amend the soil annually by adding compost or organic matter to maintain fertility and soil structure. Adjust the amount based on plant needs, soil test results, and observations of plant health and growth.

What grows best in a raised garden bed?

Perennial plants, which are permanent plants that return each year, are ideal for raised beds. Examples include daylilies, lavender, oregano, rhubarb, raspberries, and hostas. These plants will continue to occupy the space for a while, unless removed. For a breakfast blend, consider planting dwarf raspberry or blueberry bushes surrounded by cutting flowers, such as peonies, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and Shasta daisies. Annual plants, on the other hand, are temporary plants that last for one growing season.

Examples include petunias, pansies, basil, lemongrass, and vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, squash, and onions. To reduce the risk of disease and pests, it is recommended to move annual vegetables around the bed. For a colorful annual garden, consider planting butterfly-beckoning plants like blue and red salvias, zinnias, pentas, gomphrena, and lantana.

How to maintain a raised garden bed?

To maintain soil health in raised beds, avoid compaction, promote drainage, amend soil with organic matter every spring, and cover it, especially during the off-season. Raised beds are a popular choice due to their quick soil warming, extended growing season, and improved soil drainage. They provide ample space for root growth and can be beautiful. Individual raised beds can be managed differently, allowing for specific soil conditions for plants like blueberries.

There are two types of raised beds: temporary and permanent. Temporary raised beds are tilled plots of land that extend 12 or more inches above the ground surface and require reshaping over time. Permanent raised beds are contained in boxes made of brick, untreated wood, and other rot-resistant material and can be developed to any height, but should contain at least 12 inches of soil.

What do you put on the bottom of a raised garden bed?

Cardboard or newspaper can be used to line the bottom of raised garden beds to deter pests and weeds on a budget. Choose cardboard with minimal markings and no tape for a safer option. Stainless steel gopher nets can be used for extra protection, as seen in Vego Garden’s modular cover system. Landscaping fabric can prevent soil erosion, promote water retention, and keep out invasive grasses. While it doesn’t break down over time like cardboard, it limits shallow-rooted plant growth, earthworm movement, and soil mixing. Deeper beds may not need it unless a weed problem is present.