Why Raised Beds?

Raised bed gardening is gaining in popularity, and for good reason. Raised beds have several advantages over regular "flat" garden beds.

1. They allow soil to warm up and dry out faster in spring.
2. By not walking in them, you prevent soil compaction.
3. Instead of spreading amendments in a garden, tilling them in, then creating beds and paths, you can focus your improvement efforts in the planting areas only.
4. They're often decorative.
5. It's easier to train pets to keep out of gardens.
6. There's less bending to tend plants. Taller beds allow you to sit while you weed.
7. You can get a larger harvest out of a smaller space, since raised beds are often planted more densely than garden beds laid out in rows.
8. They reduce the need for tilling. Repeated tilling damages soil structure which can lead to compaction.

You can make a raised bed by simply raking soil up into flat-topped beds that sit higher than surrounding soil. Or you can make or purchase permanent beds made from a variety of materials.