Raised bed gardens are ideal for growing vegetables and herbs because they provide a more effective and efficient growing environment and eliminate a number of gardening problems.

Raised bed gardens

Raised bed gardens are ideal for growing vegetables and herbs because they eliminate many gardening problems.

You fill a raised bed with a customised soil-and-compost blend so there are no problems if you have bad soil in your area.

Raised beds have good drainage and they hold the soil in place to minimise erosion.

Greater exposure to the sun warms the bed, which allows more plant diversity and extends the growing season. Plants can be spaced closely together, so yields go up, water use is efficient and weeds are crowded out.

Finally, raising the soil level by even a foot reduces the back-bending effort needed for jobs such as planting, weeding and harvesting.

Beyond the ease is the control—as you grow your favorite foods, you feed and soak your plants with just what they need for optimum growth.

A raised bed is most productive and attractive as a bottomless frame set into a shallow trench. The sides can be almost any durable building material, including rock, brick, concrete, concrete blocks and even steel. If you have less room you can use a large container like watering troughs or bathtubs, as long as they have drainage.

But by far the most common material for raised beds is wood. Steer clear of wood preserved with toxins. Check for the most suitable wood types in your area.