Hints On Getting Best Results With Raised Bed Gardening

By Gary Shirley

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.

Using proper soil, watering carefully and maintaining your garden to prevent disease and weeds will do a lot to keep your garden looking fresh and clean.

Levels Of pH And Good Soil

Many soil mixtures exist for the budget conscious consumer, but the one I've had the best success with follows this simple recipe: one quarter yard soil mixed with a combination of compost and sand. This will kickstart growth in the bed and provide plenty of sustenance. Monitor 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.

Use Right Amounts Of Water

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.

Easy Maintenance

One of the most appealing aspects of raised bed gardening is the simple fact that it really doesn't take much in the way of maintenance to keep them going. Simply watering properly, introducing organic material periodically and turning over the soil every now and then should be perfectly fine.

If there are any signs of disease, simply empty your garden and put down new soil for your plants and you're good to go. As long as it looks good and the veggies keep growing, you should be fine.

There's no doubt that the low maintenance side of raised bed gardening is appealing, but even better is the amazing display when your flowers and vegetables come to fruition. Your yard will absolutely glow, and so will you as your beautiful bed will attract well deserved attention from passing individuals. - 30234

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