Raised bottom have taken the horticulture existence by storm , and just about every vegetable gardener claims at least one heighten bottom in their invention . But are raised bed better for horticulture ? People feel passionate about gardening in raise bed vs in ground beds , so allow ’s talk about the benefits and the drawbacks of each .
In my old garden , I used a combining of raise bed and in land bed . All of my perennials and herbs were in the dry land , while I appropriate one tumid raised bed for my vegetables .
Just a paring of my garden had full Sunday to grow my vegetables . So my solution was to makea unique stacked raised bedwhere I could optimize my grow space . It function absolutely for someone with a small garden and as someone with mobility issues .
Mystacked vertical bedat my old house.
As for my home , there is one with child raise seam left behind by previous owners that is completely impractical . It ’s goes right on up against a neighbor ’s fencing , think it ’s unmanageable to access . So I ’ll actually be remove it this summertime !
There is always going to be a case for both sides of growing in raise beds vs in land ones . So permit me break down what you may expect from either option .
Raised Bed vs In Ground Beds
In ground beds are what ’s more traditional , and what I ’m sure most of your existing horticulture beds are . This is when you produce your plant directly into the native ground . There is no sod or lawn , just soil ready for you to plant in .
raise bed have four walls , creating an enclosed infinite . These edge can be made of wood , brick , charge card , concrete , or other building textile . They change significantly in size , with some being small and portable and others enceinte and fixed to the ground .
Are Raised Beds Better for Gardening?
When it comes down to it , it all depends on the soil quality . For some , their backyard has wonderful beds of dirt , whether you put your all into making it so or inherited some darn good land already .
For some , they do n’t have great grease . Perhaps they have drainage issue or compact , Henry Clay ground . In some of these cases , it ’s easier to commence from mark with a raised bed rather than attempt to fix the soil . give it to the perennials to set it up instead !
There are many pros and cons for arouse layer vs in ground I . It all depends on what your current issues are , what you go for you develop , and what space you have . I ’ll break this down further , so you could calculate out what kind of bed is in effect for you !
Pros of Raised Beds
Raised beds are very trendy in gardening aright now . They have adistinct neat and orderly lookthat many nursing home gardeners prize . Even when there ’s nothing growing in them , they can ply somewinter interest . But there are a lot more overconfident thing to regard besides the methodicalness of a grow bed .
Space Saver
These raised bed cangive you extra blank in your gardening . If you have limited live growing space , say from a paved patio or declamatory deck of cards , you could grow plenty in raise bed .
They ’re also expectant for small space that need to dead manage their space , such as balcony growers orsmall urban gardens .
See this guide onsquare foot gardeningfor steer for maximize infinite .
Keep Pests Away
While no garden is move to be entirely pest free , raised beds can give you a leg up in keep the gadfly away . Since the raised bed is n’t on grade ground , it ’s out of stomp and champ chain for specific pests likesnails , slugs , and rabbits . I mature mylettuce in a wine barrelto keep them aside from slug !
If the levy bed has a bottom or is line , it can alsoprotect from underground denizen like gophers or moles .
And if you have small kiddos flow around , it can also keep the garden away from queer hand and stomping feet . Same goes for dogs ! Thoughcatsseem to be capable to reach wherever they put their heart on .
More Accessible
One of the biggest draws of raised bed vs ground beds is that they can be more accessible . Those who have injuries or disabilities may have difficulty in reaching and tending to ground bed .
If you have a raised layer that is high up , you do n’t have to stoop or tend as much . It can make gardening much moreaccessiblefor anyone .
It ’s also great forchildren who are helping you in the garden . They ’re less probable to step or kneel on thing when there is that separation .
Less Weeding
For most people , they will find that they have to do less weed with a raised bed . With new pot - seed - free ground , less grass are potential to bolt down up . The soil is sterile when taken maintenance of properly .
The edge also facilitate to keep out newweeds , especially those that spread easy through roots like crab smoke or trefoil .
However , it should be noted that if you place a raised bottom over top of where greensward or weeds used to be and do n’t have a seamed bottom , the weeds can still creep their way in .
Of of course , you ’ll still get skunk no matter what — many are carried in the wind . So it ’s not a fool proof solution !
High-Quality Soil
When you start a young stir bottom , you ’re at once become to have sometop - grade soil . If you are starting a ground seam , it can sometimes take a few class to work up up the soil to be of gamey - quality .
Soil can be difficult for many reasons , like wads of roots from a tree that make it difficult to implant into or lots of junk and rocks that make it difficult to use .
Soil Temperatures
Raised bed heat up much more rapidly than in ground beds . you could get an other start outside in the bound when temperature commence to warm up up in raised bed .
grow beds ( and container , which are basically small kindle beds ) are great forheat loving vegetablesas they stay warmer in the summer than the ground .
It should be noted that it work the paired fashion in the cooler season . The earth will be slower to freeze and nerveless , while raised beds will cool off chop-chop . So if you have anything raw to the cold , kick upstairs beds are not as well insulated in the fall and winter .
Better Drainage
If a raised bottom is set up properly , it can have safe drainage than in footing beds . This is specially helpful in super rainy surface area or if your yard has drain take and can collect soggy soil .
That being said , raise beds can pool water at the root if it is n’t set up for right drainage . So make trusted you set it up right to take advantage of this pro .
Cons of Raised Beds
For every pro , there is a convict . Many of these pro have other consideration that should also be noted . In some cases , in ground beds are a better option than raise ones . Here are some of the not - as - great aspects of growing plants in a elevate bed .
More Expensive
You do n’t need much to start grow in the ground . you could get started immediately , and do n’t have to occupy about buying extra building materials or bucket loads of soil .
Speaking of ground , it can get pretty high-priced when you ’re filling a whole raised bed ( or two ) full of it . I always suggestadding a level beneath of other organic materialsuch as branches and leaves . But even then , it will demean and you ’ll determine yourself topping off with dirt the next year .
While you have the initial building toll of the raise layer , it may also require upkeep down the road . Especially if you apply Sir Henry Joseph Wood , you may find yourself want to replace panel just a few years after constructing it .
Requires More Resources
Plants in the ground have a big leg up on the competition for being low maintenance . They have access to endless filth beneath them where they can get at all the nutrients they need and plenty of water .
I never contribute any supplemental fertilizer to my in ground beds . Everything they want is already in the grease . I add layer ofcompostwhen I have some ready and allowleaf mulchto degrade in the autumn . And that ’s all they take !
Meanwhile , works inraised beds and containers will requiresupplemental fertilizerto get the nutrients they need . And oftentimes , tearing will wash away away a good chunk of the nutrients too .
In priming coat bed also retain water much better . They can get at moisture from deeper in the ground during drouth . raise layer dry out out quite quickly , and you ’ll find yourself water them almost daily in the peak of the summer .
Raised beds can also bedifficult to irrigate . You’re working against gravity after all .
Limited Growing Space
When contrive a get up bottom , it ’s important to consider how deep you make it , as this will limit what you’re able to maturate . Anything that has cryptical roots will have difficult growing in raised seam . With edges and bottoms , industrial plant has unmanageable getting the horizontal spread and deepness they demand .
See this guidefor how deep a raised garden bottom should be .
More Permanent
In some showcase , raised bed can be portable . This is great formoving plantsaround as your figure changes and to optimize develop conditions such as amount of sunlight .
But in most cases , raise beds are actually quite permanent . As your designing change , you get stuck with a large and immobile structure . For new gardeners , the first design does n’t always perplex . You learn how other aim and systems work well for you .
When you spend time and money build a advance bed , many are hesitant to take it all down and begin from scratch . But sometimes that ’s the only solution for a fresh , better working garden design .
Time and Energy
Depending on what your big problems are , a upraise bed vs an in ground bed can take more metre or Energy Department . Besides the initial build of a raise layer , they also will involve more day-after-day watering and fertiliser than a raised bed . But , you may discover yourself not having to struggle green goddess or pest as much .
Likewise , an in ground bed does n’t require much put up . You save time on watering and requiring niggling fertilizer . But you may end up spending more time weeding , amending stain , and fighting slugs and snails .
Take the sentence to opine about your quad , what you plan on growing , and your item-by-item motive . Weigh these pros and hustle I ’ve outline in raise beds vs in ground beds , and see what fits your garden best !
FAQ About Raised Gardening Beds
Avoid any great vegetables . This mean those that sprawl above ground and below ground . Vegetables with gravid stem systems , such as Cucurbita pepo or watermelons , may have difficultyif the bed is n’t late enough . Anything vining can also be difficult . check that you have a trellis to encourage these plants to uprise up , not across the bottom . Also avoid any vegetables that may be difficult to get at , such as potatoes or corn .
veg with shallow root system do exceptionally well in raise beds . They ’re quite various , so you may even put them in containers . Root vegetables like loose soil , which also makes them a peachy candidate for raised beds since there is no foot traffic to compact the territory . Heat loving vegetable may also benefit from raise bottom as the soil temperature is ardent in the summertime .
If you ’re ready to hand , it ’s usually cheaper to make your raise garden beds yourself . If you’re able to use reclaimed wood , even better . Here ’s how you canmake your own raised garden bed .
Tips for Growing Vegetables in a Raised Bed
Share this post:
