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Advantages of Raised Garden Beds

By Melanie Marten, published Jul 08, 2008
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Many gardeners prefer raised garden beds over traditional flat ones. They give many different explanations for their preference. However, are raised beds really better? Learn about the advantages of raised garden beds and how they can reduce garden work load, increase produce yield, and increase landscaping beauty in your own yard.

Raised Garden Beds - Make Work Less Back-Breaking

By their very nature, raised garden beds help make working in the garden easier by reducing the distance you must lean over. Raised garden beds can be worked on from a comfortable position on a stool or rolling garden cart. This is especially useful for older gardeners who have trouble getting up and down from the ground.

The amount of work needed to maintain raised garden beds is less than that for traditional gardens. The garden is automatically edged when you create the raised bed. This reduces weeding and edging chores so you have more time to enjoy your garden.

Raised Garden Beds - Special Mix Soil

Flat gardens must make do with the existing soil, often augmented with fertilizers, compost, or sand. Raised garden beds allow you to create your own special soil mix specifically designed for the types of plants that will grow in the bed. This is especially useful in vegetable gardens. Each section of the raised bed garden can use a different type of soil, thus increasing produce yield by keeping plants happy and healthy.

Besides tailoring the type of garden soil to the particular variety of plant, raised beds increase drainage and soil warmth. The growing season can be extended, thus providing more ripe vegetables or beautiful flowers for your pleasure.

Raised Garden Beds - Landscaping Style

The advantages of raised garden beds are not only practical, but aesthetic as well. Most garden beds sprawl outside their created borders, narrowing walking paths and creating a more casual silhouette. Wayward plants may even make the garden look sloppy. Raised garden beds negate all these problems, constraining the plants within their bounds and leaving plenty of room for attractive walkways.

Raised Garden Beds - Decorative Accents

Comments
Comments 1 - 15 of 15
 
 
My neighbor has a raised garden but complains about having to water it more than a level one. It does look great though.

Posted on 08/09/2008 at 5:08:22 PM

 
My neighbor has a raised garden but complains about having to water it more than a level one. It does look great though.

Posted on 08/09/2008 at 5:08:21 PM

 
Great article.

Posted on 07/30/2008 at 6:07:40 AM

 
Great article. Did you also know that raised garden beds are really helpful for those with some disabilities? Certain disabilities can limit access to gardening, but raised beds allow for easier access, sort of like what you described with back injuries, making them the perfect accessible gardens. :-)

Posted on 07/27/2008 at 9:07:28 PM

 
I love gardening and for me raised beds are the only way to go. It keeps everything neet and tidy while saving stress on your back and legs.

Posted on 07/15/2008 at 11:07:58 PM

 
great info., I love my raised bed gardens!

Posted on 07/12/2008 at 5:07:16 PM

 
Good piece. We mounded our tomato plants for the last two years and got excellent crops. It started when we Composted on the spot and had nowhere to put the new soil the following year

Posted on 07/12/2008 at 6:07:35 AM

 
Glad I read this, excellent gardening piece.

Posted on 07/11/2008 at 11:07:40 PM

 
My mom has always used raised garden beds, I have learned so much from her!! Great Article!!

Posted on 07/09/2008 at 2:07:41 PM

 
Ok, I printed this out - the woman has been wanting to do a raised garden forever now, and this information is perfect!! Thanks Melanie :).

Posted on 07/09/2008 at 2:07:04 PM

 
That first consideration is so practical. Never occurred to me that people would raise a garden bed for that reason rather than for appearance sake but it makes good sense.

Posted on 07/08/2008 at 10:07:40 PM

 
Thanks for the information!

Posted on 07/08/2008 at 7:07:14 PM

 
:)

Posted on 07/08/2008 at 11:07:27 AM

 
I'm convinced. You have me thinking where in my yard it would work best to put in a raised garden.

Posted on 07/08/2008 at 10:07:06 AM

 
Great article! Wouldn't matter which kind of garden bed I had, all the flowers would just die. I'm an awful gardener.

Posted on 07/08/2008 at 10:07:12 AM

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