Friday, December 30, 2005
Six Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening
Raised beds are garden beds higher than the surrounding soil level. Raised beds are small enough to work without actually stepping onto the bed. This way, the soil compacts less, allowing better water percolation and less likelihood of root damage. Generally, beds are no wider than 4 feet. Lengths can be whatever suits the gardener's purpose.
Over the years, I have converted my community garden space from the classic rows to raised beds. To me, it is the only way to garden. Here are some reasons why.
1) Raised bed are easier to tend. With a bed a mere eight inches above the surrounding ground surface, you can use a camp stool or five gallon bucket to easily work your way around a bed to sow, weed, water and harvest.
2) It's easier to keep an eye on things. You can look into the stems and stalk areas much easier, checking for pests and weeds. Harvesting is a breeze.
3) Speaking of breeze, the air seems to move around the plants in raised beds more readily. It makes sense. They are above the ground and are more likely to catch the wind, rather than be obstructed by other plants and barriers at ground level. This helps avoid the damp, humid conditions that promote fungus.
4) The books say that raised beds warms the soil more quickly in the spring. I am more of a late season planter. I do know that a raised bed full of compost and soil seems to work earlier in the spring.
5) The tidiness of raised beds is hard to beat. They make for a more contained look. Let the rest of my life be uncontained! Here's where order prevails. Just take a look at Joseph Furttenbach the Elder's engraving. Check out this drawing at the Met Museum. Just enter Furttenbach in their search box.
www.metmuseum.org
6) Extension services and university horticultural schools suggest that raised beds are more productive. ¶ 8:34 PM
Raised beds are garden beds higher than the surrounding soil level. Raised beds are small enough to work without actually stepping onto the bed. This way, the soil compacts less, allowing better water percolation and less likelihood of root damage. Generally, beds are no wider than 4 feet. Lengths can be whatever suits the gardener's purpose.
Over the years, I have converted my community garden space from the classic rows to raised beds. To me, it is the only way to garden. Here are some reasons why.
1) Raised bed are easier to tend. With a bed a mere eight inches above the surrounding ground surface, you can use a camp stool or five gallon bucket to easily work your way around a bed to sow, weed, water and harvest.
2) It's easier to keep an eye on things. You can look into the stems and stalk areas much easier, checking for pests and weeds. Harvesting is a breeze.
3) Speaking of breeze, the air seems to move around the plants in raised beds more readily. It makes sense. They are above the ground and are more likely to catch the wind, rather than be obstructed by other plants and barriers at ground level. This helps avoid the damp, humid conditions that promote fungus.
4) The books say that raised beds warms the soil more quickly in the spring. I am more of a late season planter. I do know that a raised bed full of compost and soil seems to work earlier in the spring.
5) The tidiness of raised beds is hard to beat. They make for a more contained look. Let the rest of my life be uncontained! Here's where order prevails. Just take a look at Joseph Furttenbach the Elder's engraving. Check out this drawing at the Met Museum. Just enter Furttenbach in their search box.
www.metmuseum.org
6) Extension services and university horticultural schools suggest that raised beds are more productive. ¶ 8:34 PM
