Use Raised Bed Gardens For Easier and Better Gardening

Ok, I admit it.  The older I get, the harder it is to reach the ground (unless it’s icy!).  That causes a bit of a problem when you love to garden.  There’s an easy solution, though, and that’s by using raised bed gardens.  That extra foot (or more) can save you from back and knee strain.  Besides less stress, there are other reasons you might want to try raised garden beds.

The Benefits of Raised Beds

If you have rich, loamy soil, congratulations!  That’s the soil type every gardener strives for.  In your case, raised beds will be more convenient (because of their height) and more organized.

• The greatest width is about four feet.  This allows you to reach any point in the garden bed without walking on the soil.  Walking in a typical garden compacts the soil, which isn’t beneficial for your crops.
• You have better control of the soil quality.  Since raised beds have a fixed volume, it’s easier to calculate how much compost and other nutrients you’ll need.  Check out our free Soil Calculator for Raised Bed Gardens.
• Because of the improved soil quality, garden beds drain better clay soil.  They also hold water better than sandy soil.
• Raised beds are ideal for no-till gardening methods.  No-till gardening is as close as you can get to the way God intended plants to grow.
• If you have infertile soil or limited space, raised garden beds can solve your problems.  First of all, you’ll fill the bed with fertile soil to get healthy veggies and herbs.  Your existing ground doesn’t matter!  And indoor and outdoor garden beds are available in so many sizes that space isn’t a problem.
• Raised garden beds have fewer or no weeds because they’re filled with soil that doesn’t contain weed seeds.  Using no-till gardening ensures the bed remains almost weed-free.
• Garden beds have minimal soil erosion.
• Since they’re above ground level, raised beds warm up faster and hold their warmth longer than the earth.
• Raised beds are able to grow better crops than earth-bound gardens.
• If you’re troubled by insects or furry pests, garden beds are easier to protect than full-size gardens.

Many raised beds have an aesthetic appeal that will please your decorating tastes.  They might even keep the harpies from the HOA off your back.

The Disadvantages of Raised Beds

As we all know, many things that bring us great benefits can also have some disadvantages.  Your particular situation could make that true for raised bed gardening.  Here are some things to consider:

• There is an upfront cost.  Whether you make your own, buy a kit, or get one pre-assembled, there’s an initial cost for the bed and the soil.
• Raised bed gardening can be impractical for large garden plots.  Those are better suited to techniques like mounding.
• Deep-rooted plants need deep beds (24 inches or more).
• Like plants in containers or pots, raised beds can dry out faster and need watering more often.  Proper mulching can reduce this problem.

If you’re ready to give raised bed gardening a try, here are some great ways to get started:

Raised Bed Gardening Accessories

Raised garden beds are simple and have low maintenance.  The main accessories you’ll need are soil and some netting to keep the pests and creatures away.  Drip irrigation is another feature that can make your job easier.

We created an easy way to determine how much soil you’ll need for your garden bed.  All you need are the bed’s length, width, and depth measurements.  Then plug them into our online Soil Calculator for Raised Bed Gardens.

Here’s a list of items you might need:

Last update on 2025-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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