Raised Bed Gardening is becoming increasingly popular in both rural and urban settings. It’s space saving, easy to maintain, and offers all the benefits of a traditional garden. But where do you start?
Choose a style of raised bed that will work for your area but base it on the plants that you would like to grow as well. For instance, if you would like to grow sweet corn, an off-the-ground unit wouldn’t be a great choice due to the height and weight of the crop you are growing. Instead, you would need to use an on-the-ground unit for the sweet corn, and an off-the-ground unit for crops like lettuce, herbs, or strawberries.
In terms of choosing your raised bed, one question we often get is in regards to materials. A lot of beds you'll see may be cedar wood or metal. Cedar wood, because of it's natural resistance to rotting, doesn't require the use of sealer to hold up in the elements. It'll, of course, naturally fade after being exposed to the elements for a long period of time, but later applications of sealer can help bring it back a bit at that point. Beds made of metal, of course, don't require sealer, but it's worth noting that anything short of stainless steel will, eventually, get a rust look going (and maybe that works for your style!), so it's worth keeping in mind.
After you choose your raised bed, order, and assemble it, you'll be ready to choose the right mix to fill it. I like to line the bottom of the beds with some Dewitt weed barrier first. Next, I add a layer of old sticks and leaves. These will break down over time and create a nice layer of compost under your soil. Cover the layer of sticks and leaves with a basic topsoil or potting soil mix, and the final 6” to fill should be a blend of compost mixed with our Pro-Mix BX with Mycorrhizae.
Now you have the raised bed, a great blend of soil…. Time to add plants! Be sure to study up on companion planting to make the most of your space. As always, feel free to reach out to the team here at Greenhouse Megastore. We’d love to help you choose your new raised bed and help you have a successful growing season!
- River S., Greenhouse Megastore Team
