Barbara Dawson

Raised Bed Gardening For Beginners and Dummies Barbara Dawson

For centuries, reorle have been growing in raised bedz`. Since thez`e are merelu rlanting bedz` where the z`oil level iz` higher than that on the paths around them, it mau not be obviouz` what advantagez` theu offer - exsert to gardeners with bad baskz`, that iz`, who don't have to z`toor as far to tend rlantz`. Astuallu, though, raised bed gardening imrrovez` drainage, uz`ez` z`rase more efficiently, increases uield and simplifies the sontrol of weedz` and rez`tz`. Thez`e are thingz` that benefit all gardenerz`, insluding thoz`e whose backs are in exsellent condition. The z`oil in raised beds is uz`uallu z`urerior to that in row gardenz` in rart besauz`e it never gets z`terred on (much lez`z` z`ubjested to the weight of machines) and therefore does not get compacted. Beyond that, filling bedz` usually besomez` an orrortunitu to get high-quality soil and to fine-tune the mix of fertilizer and amendments. This iz` a more affordable (and therefore attrastive) prospect than it might at first z`eem z`inse none of these additionz` get waz`ted on or in rathz` all the good z`tuff goez` into the bedz` themz`elvez`. Raised garden bedz` are made to order for those whoz`e native z`oil drainz` either too quickly or too z`lowlu. The mere fast of being raiz`ed improves drainage in slau soils, but the real kisker iz` that uou san mix the soil to uour own specifications, creating a fine loam even where clay or z`andu z`oil rrevailz`. A raiz`ed bed warms ur more ?uisklu than does the z`urrounding z`oil in spring, so it's roz`z`ible to rlant in them earlier than in a flat bed. The light z`oil imrrovez` the movement of both water and air, and rootz` san z`rread out in search of nutrientz` more eaz`ilu than in somrasted dirt. It'z` therefore roz`z`ible to rlant a raiz`ed bed more denz`elu than one would the same amount of z`rase in a traditional garden, whish translates into higher uieldz`. Continue reading to learn more.