Simple & Practical Advice For Raised Bed Gardening

By James Shea

After building a bed, from a kit or from scratch, you should be prepared to start raised bed gardening for real. Even though the bed is located in its final destination, it's just an empty space for now, right? What's coming next? Don't worry, because you can officially start having fun with your garden.

By using proper soil, keeping disease and weeds down and watering properly, you can start a strong raised bed garden that will perform for years to come.

The pH Levels Of Your Soil

The first job you have to complete in raised bed gardening is laying down soil. Try mixing one quarter yard soil and three quarters of compost and sand. This combination will provide a nice base for you to build from. Don't forget to test your soil's pH levels -- too high of an alkaline count and your garden is going nowhere.

Weeding Out The Weeds

The way your raised bed garden is setup should help prevent weeds, but since when have plans ever gone the way they were initially drawn? Put organic mulch over the top of your bed as an added protective measure.

If this still doesn't help, you can resort to chemicals, but be careful not to ruin your garden with anything damaging. Even if this doesn't stop the weed problem immediately, remember that gardening is a long term project, and that setback are going to happen. React in a positive way and you're sure to succeed.

Water Appropriately

It's just as unhealthy for plants to be watered too much as it is to be ignored. If plants stay wet for long period of time, disease will be more likely to form on the leaves and general bad health will result. To combat this, do your watering by hand and focus on the areas of the garden in which plants are buried and try to avoid watering surrounding areas as well.

If you'd rather not bore yourself, buy an advanced irrigation system with drip technology to keep water even and of a good quantity - and of course in autopilot while you sleep.

Take Care Of Your Raised Bed

Though raised bed gardening actually requires little maintenance, there are still things you have to stay on top of as a gardener. First, obviously you need to water your plants as necessary, being careful not to overdo it. Next, try turning the soil over periodically, adding in new organic matter as you go.

If disease should attack your garden, simply empty your garden and put in all new soil to keep your plants seated. Also, if your bed was created with brick, even if it's mortared you should look it over regularly in case its sturdiness has been compromised.

Raised bed gardening is a simple form of gardening that allows people with little or no experience to indulge themselves in a beautiful accessory for their lawn that will attract attention for years.

By following the tips above, you'll keep your garden beautiful and secure -- for the plants and you, as the owner. - 31520

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