Raised garden beds are one of the most popular choices for growing vegetables and plants.
They are easy to use and allow gardeners of any level of expertise to grow multiple varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and plants in various sizes. Raised garden beds are praised for their versatility, but mistakes can easily be made, and they are not always simple to fix.
Below are five of the most common mistakes gardeners make when growing in raised garden beds:
- Not Prepping
Raised beds are not moveable.
Once they are built and filled with soil, there is no going back. You must ensure that you pick the right spot and prepare the area for building.
Raised garden beds should ideally receive around four to six hours of direct sunlight each day. Spring is the best season to build raised beds, so start scouting for the perfect spot now.
- Choosing The Wrong Soil
Raised garden beds are great in many ways, but that does not make them miracle workers.
Never make the mistake of using just any old soil from anywhere in your garden. As a rule, you should always include some organic matter in your soil. Look for a soil blend that has compost and nutrients added to it.
Using subpar soil or only potting soil can be devasting to the growth and well-being of your raised bed. Good soil is always the foundation of any colorful garden.
- Placing Raised Beds Too Closely
Placement of your raised beds is essential to their success.
While it may seem like a good idea to build raised beds near walls or fences, that will restrict access from all four sides. Likewise, you should never place elevated flower beds too closely together.
Leave ample room for mulching, composting, and planting. Two to three feet between each raised bed should be enough room for you and your wheelbarrow.
- Watering Mistakes
Avoid low-lying areas of your garden where rainwater tends to collect.
Have a watering plan for your raised garden beds unless you are prepared to water them by hand. Build your beds near a water source or plan to lay irrigation. The best irrigation methods are soaker hoses or drip line systems – but they require preplanning.
Choose an accessible method that is the least time-consuming. Watering by hand may not seem all that bad at first, but you will tire of it after a few weeks.
- Not Mulching
Just because your raised beds are not in-ground beds does not mean you can forgo mulching.
Raised beds do have fewer weeds, but they still appear. Weeds are resilient and will grow in any conditions, so lay down mulch to help keep weeds under control.
Mulching is also an effective solution to regulate soil temperature and reduce erosion.
To End
Lastly, do not be afraid to combine raised beds with vertical gardening methods – these two go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Pay attention to your gardening methods and avoid the above five mistakes, you will be grateful that you did when you have thriving new garden beds.