PDC LESSON 2.36 DESIGN – RAISED GARDEN BED

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 2.36 DESIGN – Raised Garden Beds

A raised bed garden gives you ideal growing conditions, regardless of what your home soil looks like.

It doesn't matter if you have sandy soil or loam in your garden, as a raised garden bed sits on top of your soil and is filled with specially formulated, nutrient-rich soil. This gives you better water retention or better drainage depending on your needs.

You get a longer growing season with a raised bed garden.

The soil in a raised bed garden warms up faster than ground level soil, meaning you can plant earlier in the season.

A raised garden bed offers protection from weeds, insects and other annoying animals.

You can install a weed barrier under a raised garden bed to prevent weeds and gophers from entering your garden beds from below. The sides can prevent insects and small animals from being easily accessed. And if you still have a problem with larger animals and birds, you can add deer fences or netting to your beds to keep them safe.

Tips for making the perfect raised bed

action is important

A raised bed needs to be placed in a strategic location. You can't just put it anywhere you have space. The room needs to get at least 6-8 hours of sunlight throughout the day. The garden should not be in a low-lying area that collects water. If possible, plant your garden so that the rows run north and south, as this offers better sun exposure.

Use durable materials

If your raised bed has sidewalls, which are recommended but not always necessary, use water-resistant, rot-resistant materials that won't leach chemicals into your beds. Cedar and redwood are the best options, but you can also use materials like landscaping blocks or retaining wall blocks.