Raised bed gardens are spaces for planting flowers, fruits, herbs or vegetables that are enclosed by a frame of rock, wood, plastic or concrete blocks. They can be any length or shape and as low as six inches or up to waist-height. Raised bed garden plans give several ways to build what is basically an oversized planting box.
If wood is used for the frame it should be rot resistant such as redwood composite lumber or cedar. Care should be taken not to use any chemically treated pressed timber, as the chemicals may leach into the soil and vegetables. Non-treated hardwood is the best, but it is expensive. Concrete blocks may not look as attractive as wood, but they are easy to use, inexpensive and solve the problem of treated wood.
There are also prefabricated polyethylene forms that are food grade and UV stabilized. They will last for years and not leach any toxic chemicals into the soil.
The place for the garden should be selected. Usually it is best to orient it north and south to get the most sunlight. It will need at least eight hours of sunlight a day. The area should also be level so the water runs off evenly, and it should be near an easy water source.
One of the best benefits of a raised bed garden is the soil. If the native soil is poor, compost and soil mix can be used, and it will not wash away. The soil is never compacted by foot traffic, so the roots have an easier time growing. It is a good idea to prepare the earth under the raised bed down to eight or 12 inches. This will give the roots plenty of room to grow. After this, the prepared soil can be placed in the bed.
Four feet is the optimum width for a raised bed because it allows every plant to be easily accessible. If the bed is against a fence or wall, it should only be three feet wide. Six inches is a good height for most vegetables and herbs. It is also easy to manage. Higher raised beds are very convenient for elderly people and people in a wheelchair to enjoy gardening without having to bend to the ground.
Raised bed garden plans offer the possibility of higher yields of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers because they allow a different method of planting. The plants can be closer together than in ground plots and in geometric patterns. The leaves just touch the next plant creating a microclimate in the raised bed where weeds find it hard to grow. This configuration also conserves moisture. With watering and weeding less often, the gardening work is less. Raised beds also allow for an extended growing period and with excellent soil the yields tend to be higher.
Circular raised beds that are waist high have a small path from the perimeter to the center. They are called keyhole gardens and can have a chimney in the center that is lined with burlap bags or grass which allows the water that is put in the center of the circle to gradually flow to the plant's roots.
Raised beds allow vegetable or flower gardens to exist in places where there would usually not be a garden. For example, one could be built on solid rock or a root top. They can also be terraced on the sides of hills, reducing soil erosion and creating productive growing areas.
Copyright (c) 2012 Jack Russell
