Tips and Tricks for Raised Bed Gardening
If you are interested in raised bed gardening, here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Don't step on the soil
It's important to make sure that the soil doesn't get compacted in your raised garden bed. Non-compacted soil allows plants to grow stronger, deeper roots. One way to prevent compacted soil is to make sure that you don't stand directly in the garden bed, while weeding or doing other garden maintenance.
2. Prevent weeds and grass from growing around the raised garden bed
There are a few different methods to prevent weeds and grass from growing around paths and walkways. One of my preferred methods is to put down a layer of cardboard on the path or walkway, and then cover it with a layer of mulch. This prevents weeds and grass from growing, while also making the garden pathways look more tidy.
3. Remember to mulch your raised beds
One way to keep weeds from overwhelming your garden plot is to mulch your raised beds. Mulching is important, because it helps to regulate the temperature of the soil, and it also helps the soil to retain moisture during summer months. Furthermore, mulching will save you time and energy, because you won't have to spend as much time weeding your garden plot. Mid to late spring is generally the best time to mulch, although mulching later in the season can also be beneficial.
4. Water your raised garden bed daily (or as needed)
Because the raised garden bed sits above ground level, you should regularly check on the soil, and make sure that it hasn't completely dried out. In very hot regions, you may need to water the garden bed daily (especially during the summer months). However, if you live in a cooler climate (or if rain is in the forecast) then you may be able to skip watering for a day or two. Ideally, you should water your garden bed in the early morning or in the evening.
5. Make sure your soil has enough nutrients
The soil of a raised garden bed gets depleted of nutrients after each growing season. A great way to replenish the nutrients in the soil is to spread a layer of compost over the entire garden bed, at the beginning of the growing season. 1-2 inches of compost should be sufficient for a raised garden bed that already has a fair amount of nutrients in it. However, more compost may be needed for a garden bed that has been completely depleted of nutrients.
These tips are just general guidelines. For a more in-depth look at raised bed gardening, here are a couple of helpful online resources:
Posted: September 8, 2020, 12:36 PM
