How To Start Planting With Raised Beds

How To Start Planting With Raised Beds

Starting a new garden can be quite an exciting adventure, especially if you have never done it before. One aspect to consider when starting a new garden is ensuring that you have good water drainage. Poor water drainage can lead to poor plant growth, which is a major concern for gardeners of all levels. One solution for improving water drainage is by creating a raised bed. In this article, I’ll guide you through the process of starting a raised bed garden.

First things first, you need to determine the water retention capacity of your soil. You can do this by digging a hole that is approximately ten inches deep and filling it with water. Leave it for a day, and come back to see how much water is left. If the hole is still filled with water after ten hours, then your soil has a low saturation point, meaning water will not drain away easily, which could lead to waterlogged plants. In this case, a raised bed will be necessary to improve water drainage.

A raised garden bed is simply a small bed that is surrounded by a border, and filled with soil and compost. The purpose of the raised bed is to increase the soil level, which will in turn improve water drainage. You can create a raised bed in either a grassy area or on a dirt area. In a grassy area, you will need to cut the grass around the perimeter of the garden and flip it over, before adding a layer of straw and soil. In a non-grassy area, simply find a border to retain the soil, and add the soil and compost to it.

Building a raised bed is yourself is a pretty simple process, and for the majority of cases only requires some pieces of timber (second hand railway sleepers are a popular choice), brackets and screws. Alternatively, many shops online sell flat-packed raised beds, that are cut to size with all fixings and fitting instructions included, offering an easier way to install beds in your garden without having to source the individual components, and doing all the measuring etc yourself. Once you have a bed made and read, you need to add the soil and compost. If you plan to plant immediately, then you can use a mix of soil and steer manure. However, if you plan to wait for a while, then you need to adjust the ratio to allow for decomposition.

Once you have added the soil and compost, it is time to plant your plants. Planting in a raised bed is no different from planting in a traditional garden. However, you need to be mindful of the roots, as they should not extend into the original ground level, as this will defeat the purpose of the raised bed. The added soil in the raised bed will facilitate better root development, while preventing evaporation and decomposition, making it an ideal environment for almost any plant to grow in.

In conclusion, starting a raised bed garden is a simple and rewarding process. The benefits of having a raised bed garden are many, including improved water drainage, better root development, and an ideal environment for plants to grow in. So, if you’re looking to start a new garden, consider creating a raised bed. With a little effort and patience, you’ll have a thriving garden in no time!