Free Article: Raised Bed Gardening

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The Advantages to Raised Bed Gardening
By Jim Carpenter

Raised bed gardening has become a popular method for both flower and vegetable gardens for a number of reasons. The advantages of raised beds to the garden hobbyist are numerous, and the aesthetic qualities of the raised beds make them ideal as a means of enhancing a current flat landscape. Raised bed gardening can be done just about anywhere making them a versatile option that is easy to build and even easier to maintain.

What is Raised Bed Gardening?

A raised gardening bed can be defined as a planting area that is higher than the surrounding area. It is often set apart through bricks, or wooden structures that serve a decorative purpose as well as a means for keeping the bed intact. These gardens are generally constructed with the idea that the gardener will be working the bed from outside of it, so most raised beds are only about four feet wide. They can be any length, from a small bed near a back door to a long, wandering section that lines the back of a fence.

Ideal for Cramped Quarters

Raised bed gardening is a perfect solution for the avid gardener who has the unfortunate dilemma of limited space for planting. Since raised beds are primarily worked from the outside, plants can be placed closer together without rows left for walking through. This allows a gardener to plant numerous vegetables and flowers in a fairly limited amount of square feet.

Better Control for Higher Quality Crops

The soil in these beds can be controlled much more adeptly by the gardener, which allows for crops to thrive in a rich soil that the natural environment may not offer. It also makes for higher water efficiency as well as easier pest control. If burrowing animals are a problem in your area, lining your raised beds with a chicken wire will keep them out of your precious vegetables.

Raised bed gardening is not limited by the weather either. While many gardeners will avoid work during rainy days because of the mud factor, since raised beds are generally not made for walking, you can work your garden in any weather condition. These beds can be easy to construct with materials like brick or lumber, and do not have to be built up any higher than a couple of feet to benefit from the additional rich soil that you will be able to add.

Raised bed gardening can be a fun and useful way for a gardening hobbyist to expand his repertoire of crops and enhance his landscape. Try a raised bed as your next gardening project and enjoy the beauty and functionality of your results.

Author Details:
Jim Carpenter writes for various websites about landscaping. He is a landscape contractor with many years experience in all areas of gardening such as landscaping, organic gardening and outdoor furniture such as BBQ grills,

You can visit his site at www.sandaservicesinc.com

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