All about Raised Beds!

Drainage and water retention

One of my favorite things about raised beds is how hard it is to overwater them, especially living in the PNW, where we get heavy rainfall, which can flood most inground gardens. Raised beds do a fantastic job draining excess water. They also do a much better job retaining water than pots. Raised beds are the happy middle ground between retaining water when needed and draining off excess water during a downpour.

Soil structure

Another important aspect of raised beds is that you create the soil structure. Instead of dealing with clay, rocks, and compaction, which is common in our area, you have a blank slate that can be filled with compost, yard waste, bagged soil, or whatever mixture you like. In my experience, it is easier to create good soil in a raised bed than to improve bad soil in the ground.

Easier Gardening

Raised beds are much easier on the back, depending on how high you want to build them. I have seen raised beds as low as a single 2×4 to ones that are chest height (3-4 Feet). The higher they are, the less bending you will have to do, making gardening that much easier. I prefer mine to be about 2 to 3 feet tall, giving the plants the opportunity to spread out of the bed as needed while still being tall enough for little bending.

More protected from animals

I have also found that raised beds are much easier to protect from animals. Putting a fence around a raised bed is much easier than fencing off a whole yard area. Depending on the height, it will help keep critters out as well. I have two huskies who like gardening as much as I do, and having a taller raised bed has helped keep them out of it. For dog owners, a raised bed is the way to go.

Building material

You can use many materials for a raised bed, such as bricks, lumber, metal, and even kits. When choosing a material, make sure it’s safe for use. Some materials may leach chemicals or minerals into the soil, altering the soil chemistry, which could be a detriment to plant health.

Base

When lining the bottom of a raised bed, I like to use something that decomposes overtime. Cardboard or burlap work great. Plastic liners or weed barriers tend to get in the way of tilling and drainage.