Everything You Need to Know About Raised Beds

You’ve seen ‘em at your community garden and at your favorite restaurant—raised garden beds are all the rage. Raised garden beds have grown in popularity for good reason. They make gardening accessible to those with limited space and simplify the process of planting and weeding. 

What are Raised Beds? 

Raised beds are garden beds that have been elevated above the surrounding soil. This form of gardening has many advantages. If you’re interested in having more control over your soil, raised beds are a great place to start. They can be purchased—or they can be built from wood, brick, or cement. Is your garden season wrapping up? Learn how to prepare raised beds for winter.

The Pros of Raised Beds

Drainage

If you ensure that there are holes in the bottom of your raised beds, this will enable your crops to absorb the water and nutrients that they need and to drain out the rest. It prevents overwatering and flooding issues, which can be detrimental to soil health. 

Less Bending

Raised beds make planting and weeding much more accessible as you do not have to bend over as far, (although this depends on the height of your beds.) 

Soil Control

If you have ever tried companion planting, you know of the advantages of planting crops with similar soil needs next to one another. Planting in a raised bed with intention is one of the simplest way to reap the benefits of companion planting as the soil can focus on the crops that you plant. 

Pest Control

There are many great solutions to keep pests away when dealing with raised beds. Lots of people add an arch with coverage or even build a hatch covered in chicken wire. Having something to nail these into is essential, which make raised beds the move for a pest-infested garden area. 

The Cons of Raised Beds

Expensive

One of the biggest challenges of using raised beds in your garden is the startup cost. I purchased beds at a discount and still dropped about $300 on the beds alone. Plus, I had to fill them with organic soil, which was an additional cost. If you are wanting to build a garden on a budget, raised beds can be a challenge. 

Require Extra Watering

Because raised beds are garden beds that sit above soil, they have excellent drainage and plants grow a bit faster. This means that the raised beds require a bit more water than gardens planted directly in ground. 

Where to Buy Raised Beds

If you have the money to spend, there are lots of great raised bed options out there. I went with these affordable fir beds from Walmart. One of my friends has had a lot of success with galvanized steel. However, our top recommendation is to make your own from cedar—read our post How to Build Raised Beds to find out how.

With all of the different options out there, keep in mind that the most important factors for a fertile garden are soil and sunlight—so we strongly suggest targeting your finances on really good soil. 

How to Prep Raised Beds 

One of our top recommendations, when it comes to building a garden, is to lay down a weed-protective layer. Pickup a weed-preventative tarp from your local hardware store. Or, better yet, lay down recycled card board boxes. These are biodegradable and the most reliable option. Then, fill your beds with soil and fertilizer before you begin planting. Trust us, this will save you hours of labor down the road. Happy planting!

Answers to Your Questions About Raised Garden Beds

What are the disadvantages of raised garden beds?

There are several key disadvantages of raised garden beds. Due to these beds being elevated above ground level, they require a bit more water than in-ground beds. Also, raised beds are a bit expensive to set up.

Is it better to have a raised garden bed or in the ground?

Raised beds will allow your plants better soil quality and more space to develop strong roots. Raised beds give you more control over soil quality and are the supreme choice when it comes to gardening style.

Do raised garden beds add value to your home?

While adding raised garden beds add to your home’s overall landscaping maintenance and value, there is no guarantee that raised beds alone add value to a home. Factor raised beds into your overall plan for beautiful landscaping, and this will likely raise your home’s value.