Look, Tell You What a Garden Bed is

Learn what a raised garden bed is, including what it is made of, how big it should be, what kind of soil to put, etc.

A raised bed garden can mean a lot of things! However, in general, when the planting bed is above the existing soil. It can range in height from a few inches to waist high (or higher) and can be made of many different materials. Usually, there is space outside each bed, so you can walk around it (rather than inside it), which will keep the soil loose and fluffy rather than compacted. This is important because roots grow best when there is room for air and water to pass easily through the soil.

Most elevated beds have frames, but the composition of the frames is entirely up to you. Traditional elevated bed frames are usually made of wood or solid plastic, but they can also be made of stone, cinder blocks, bricks, terrace pavers, broken concrete blocks (from the recent sidewalk reconstruction), corrugated metal, straw bags - you know. In other words, you can use purchased or recycled materials to create a product that matches your own style and landscape. If you don't want to, you don't even have to do too much in the way of construction, because elevated beds also have kits. (Interested? Look at our ole garden bed)

Whatever it is made of, the ideal elevated bed is narrow enough (usually 4 feet or less) that you can stretch from both sides into the center, although it can be any length you want. Beds can also have different depths, and the depth you choose depends on what you want to plant - for example, deep rooted plants like miniature fruit trees and tomatoes require more soil than shallow rooted plants like lettuce and pansies. The raised bed can also be raised on the legs, so you don't have to bend over to take care of the plants.
A raised bed does not need a bottom, but if you encounter problems with hamsters or other small tunnel animals, using a bed made of fine mesh may help. They can also have solid bottoms (perfect for decks and terraces), but require a considerable number of drain holes so that any excess water can flow.
Native soil or topsoil should not be used for overhead gardens because it is too heavy. Instead, it should be filled with bagged soil. You can choose some nutrient soil, which is the perfect weight and texture for planting large and rich plants.

As for the things that grow well on the elevated bed, the choices are almost endless! You can grow tomatoes, peppers, herbs and everything you like.
Ready to try the elevated bed gardening? You have mastered this completely!