Raised Bed Gardening Methods: Water, Soil And More

By Jason Minor

Installed raised bed gardens are always fun to see, because their existence means that the fun part is about to begin: the actual raised bed gardening! This is what you've been waiting for, so go all out and fill in that blank space with beautiful living things.

Through careful watering, proper soil choice and monitoring its health for disease and weeds, you can keep your raised bed gardening fun and fast and leave your yard feeling proud about its gorgeous new addition.

Watch The pH Levels Of Your Soil

There are numerous soil packages available from every store under the Sun, but my personal favorite is a bit more down to earth. Try this simple recipe: mix one quarter yard soil with a solution of compost and sand. This unique combination will provide a great starting point for your bed. Also watch your pH levels. If they're too high, nothing will grow.

Keeping Weeds Down

Raised bed gardens typically get the better of weeds, but that's not to say that no one ever experiences the occasional weed here and there. Put in some organic mulch and use whatever weed guarding stuff you have in the house. If this doesn't get rid of your weed infestation, remove them by hand. It's simple and not really time consuming. Throw some more mulch over the top and see what happens overnight. Keep in mind this is an ongoing fight, so there will be victories and there will be losses.

Keep Watering

Manual watering is the way to go, making sure to hit the areas where your plants are inserted into the soil rather than the surrounding areas. If you feel extravagant, pick up an easy irrigation system with a drip technology that will keep your plants happy. Overhead watering is dangerous, as your plants can easily remain wet for too long and end up succumbing to disease. Water your plants decently, but don't hose them.

Simple To Maintain

Raised bed gardening is particularly attractive to busy people because they require precious little in the way of real maintenance. If yours is made of brick and mortar, go out and kick it every now and then to make sure it won't fall over, and that's about it. Make sure to water your plants and turn the soil over periodically. Add in a little organic material here and there.

If the garden starts to pick up disease, empty your garden immediately and put in brand new soil for your plants. On a physical level, if your bed is built from bricks, make sure you check to make sure it's still steady to prevent anything falling.

The low maintenance may be a strong factor in choosing raised bed gardening over other options, but let's face it: raised bed gardens look beautiful and can add a set piece to your yard that will start the neighbors talking. For such a small investment, how can it not be worth it? - 32616

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