Benefits of Raised Garden Beds

James from Redwood

As it is a bit of an inside day weather wise today I thought I would make the 2nd post in my series on the benefits of using raised garden beds.

2. Good drainage
Raised beds provide good drainage even in heavy rains. This is one reason they have always been popular in areas that get heavy rainfall. The loose texture of the soil allows the water to seep into the bed, preventing quick runoff that would otherwise carry away the fertile topsoil. At the same time, it allows excess water to drain away.

Most plants grow well in moist soil, but many of them hate wet feet. For one thing, too much water around the roots interferes with their breathing. Secondly, constant moisture promotes bacterial and fungal diseases. Water logging can also change the pH of the soil, making it more acidic and less favorable to plants preferring neutral to slightly alkaline soils.

The ideal soil moisture for most plants is around 25%, although bog plants have adapted to living in soils saturated with water. When you water your plants growing in raised beds, the water gets absorbed into the lower layers of the beds rather quickly. It keeps the soil evenly moist but without allowing the water to stagnate.

3. Root spread
It is quite evident that plant roots would find it easier to grow and spread in every direction when the soil is loose. Not only that but the framed beds retain moisture much longer than traditional raised beds since water loss from the sides is minimized. This keeps the beds from drying out between watering and facilitates good root run.

Plants that are growing in the ground usually have a shallow root system unless the ground is tilled deep before planting. Such plants cannot access the moisture in the lower layers of soil, and are more likely to get dehydrated as soon as the surface moisture evaporates. A well developed root system anchors the plant and helps it gather water and nutrients from a larger area which is particularly important for vegetables. They have to grow vigorously and produce maximum yield within a short period.

Visit me - James at Out Of the Woods Woodshop where we custom make raised garden beds and planter boxes to suit your dimensions and needs and receive a free quote, or call 0272427901.