Raised Gardens – Siting and Filling Tips
A raised bed garden can be a good choice if you have very heavy soil that is hard to cultivate. They can also be a good choice if you find gardening in a conventional garden difficult as they are easier to reach without having to kneel down.
When choosing a site for your raised bed garden observe your yard for a whole day to see which parts are in the sun or the shade. You will need to decide if you are going to grow shade or sun loving plants and site your garden appropriately. You also need to make sure there is enough room around it so that you can reach it from all sides and be able to manoeuvre wheelbarrows etc around it. You could also think about installing pathways around the garden to make it easier to reach, especially if you are installing it for someone in a wheelchair.
Filling Your Raised Garden
Once you have your raised garden installed it’s time to fill it. Many gardeners use half soil and half compost with a small amount of sand mixed in to aid drainage. Use good quality soil either bought in bags from your gardening supply shop or as top soil which can usually be bought in bulk. Top soil can vary a lot as it is not regulated in any way so be careful and buy only from someone you know to be reputable. You could use your garden soil but most people will find they need to purchase extra soil as a raised garden can take a very large amount!
If you use a mixture of garden soil and purchased soil thorougjly mix them in your raised garden to avoid having two different layers. It is also a good idea to use a soil testing kit to check the pH and nutrients once you have filled the garden. You will also need to add organic matter occasionally as the the soil settles and it’s a good idea to add an organic mulch to replenish nutrients regularly. You could also grow plants in the bed during the winter to help protect the soil then dig them in in the Spring to provide a source of nutrients.