Raised Bed Gardening

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated June 12, 2024)

One of the greatest pastimes, gardening can be satisfying and hugely rewarding. In order to grow plants successfully, you need adequate sunlight, good soil drainage, sufficient space, and proper soil. But what if you have clay or sandy soil, with poor drainage, making it impossible to grow plants? A practical alternative is raised bed gardening.

Also termed bio-intensive gardening, raised bed gardening was developed in 1972 at Stanford University, and was so successful that it is now used by countries who have a history of poor local nutrition. Raised bed gardening is a method of growing plants in which a frame of wood or concrete blocks is filled with dirt and enriched with organic compost of grass clippings and leaves. The framed beds are three or four feet wide, and any length, and built one foot or more above the existing ground. Planting in geometric patterns with little space between the plants creates a microenvironment, with mature plant leaves barely touching each other. The microclimate controls weed growth and preserves moisture.

You can easily build a raised garden bed at home. Start with a small bed, in location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day, then follow these steps:

  • Decide on a design and height. Make your frame any shape you want, depending on your materials and time you want to spend on the frame. The height of your garden bed can be three or four feet high, but at least one foot off the ground.
  • Walls. Erect the walls of the raised bed with concrete blocks, logs, wooden plank, railroad ties, stone, or brick. For proper drainage, use two inches of gravel under the base of the raised bed, and mortar corners of the beds for stability, if necessary. (Note: If you are going to use the bed to raise edible vegetables, don't use pressure-treated lumber or railroad ties for your walls. The chemicals can leech into the soil and into the food you are growing.)
  • Bed spacing. Your raised beds should be no more than four feet wide, with pathways between each bed wide enough for a wheelbarrow to comfortably pass through.
  • Soil. Make a soil mixture of dirt and compost, and then fill the beds to about an inch or so from the top of the bed.
  • Plant spacing. Densely plant your vegetables, leaving just enough space for mature plants to touch their leaves. Don't overcrowd your plants, but planting close together will naturally suppress weed growth.
  • Irrigation. Regularly water your raised garden beds, as they require more water than standard garden plots.

Raised garden beds are not easily movable, so make sure that you plan carefully before you build and plant. Some advantages of raised bed gardening are weed reduction, extended planting seasons, early thaw, and a solution to poor native soil.

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Treating Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome worsens with age and inactivity. Therefore, sufferers of the syndrome should develop a realistic ...

Discover More

Creating a French Twist

A favored style by those with long hair, the French twist is versatile and appropriate for formal and informal occasions. ...

Discover More

Swedish Meatballs and Egg Noodles with Creamed Spinach and Hot Applesauce

Instead of using frozen meatballs, you can use fresh ground beef to form your meatballs. Simply use a binding agent, such ...

Discover More
More Gardening Tips

Chinese Gardens

If you are looking to create a garden that is both relaxing, and beautiful, then one of the best types you could plant is ...

Discover More

Aesthetic Potting

Potted plants can be a wonderful addition to any landscaping design, or even if used as a decoration for your home. ...

Discover More

What is a Planted Path?

Garden paths are a great way to add elegance to anyone's decorative garden, and are often an integral element of a ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 3 + 2?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)