Backyard gardens have been around a long time and continue to gain in popularity. They allow us to eat healthier for less, can improve our mental well-being and benefit our native pollinators. And raised bed gardens are becoming an increasingly attractive option as our outdoor space shrinks from more dense, populated neighborhoods.
Benefits of Raised Bed Gardens
Better Soil
We all know that Florida’s sandy and clay soils can be challenging to gardeners. With a raised bed garden, you create the perfect soil mix for the plants and vegetables you choose to grow. Likewise, a raised bed eliminates compaction from footsteps.
Improved Yields
Raised beds can be built deeper, offering more nutrient-rich soil that can accommodate more densely planted vegetables. As they grow, the resulting shade can block weeds from growing. And importantly, a raised bed structure can block soil-based pests such as nematodes as well as rodents (when mesh lined along bottom).
Better Drainage
A well-built raised bed garden will drain more quickly than compacted soils. Not only will you have chosen a nutrient-rich soil mix, you’ll avoid the clay that tends to hold moisture.
Longer Growing Season
Our subtropical climate already provides Floridians with a longer growing season than most of the US. However, raised beds allow us to extend the season even longer, if not year-round because soils within raised beds warm up more quickly (and cool down more slowly).
Visually Pleasing
When built with quality materials and properly maintained, your raised bed can visually enhance your landscape and become a focal point of your yard. They can also accommodate HOA restrictions on in-ground gardens.
Conserve Water
If you incorporate irrigation into your raised bed when you build it, you can control the amount of water used (and wasted).
Self-Fertilizing & Composting
Once your season has ended, mix residual plant matter back into the soil! It’s clean, safe and full of nutrients.
Types of Raised Beds
There are multiple types of raised beds, including those you build yourself as well as those you can purchase. The type you choose is largely up to you and can be based on budget and desired aethetics.
If purchasing a raised bed, choices include kits, preassembled and anywhere in between. Metal options will often be powder-coated offered in multiple sizes, styles and colors. Wood beds include cedar, pine and others. Composite types (in boards and prebuilt panels) are eco-friendly and typically won’t warp, rust or fade.
When choosing to build your own, you are only limited by your creativity. You can choose redwood or cedar, both naturally rot-resistant, an untreated lumber or ACQ Ground Contact treated lumber that’s safe for gardens. Other materials include concrete blocks, bricks and stones. You can even use retaining wall blocks for continuity of your landscape design. However, make sure the latter is suitable for edibles.
As a note of caution, avoid scrap lumber, recycled timbers and railroad ties. Prior treatment of scrap lumber is unknown and timbers and ties have likely been chemically treated.
The Ideal Size & Location for your Raised Beds
The ideal size and location for raised beds will vary based on available space, what you plan to grow and the orientation of your property. Of course, purchased beds will be set in size but you have plenty of options when building your own.
In general, your bed should be no wider than a comfortable distance for you to reach just beyond midway from either side (often 4’). Length can depend on your site and personal preference. And while deeper beds require more materials to fill, 12-24” will ensure you have adequate depth for most plants. If building in rows, make sure to factor in space between them for your wheelbarrow and/or garden cart and lawnmower.
Orienting your beds from north to south will allow direct sunlight to reach both sides of the plants. In practicality, trees, shrubs, fences and other landscape elements can block sunlight so factor these in when choosing location.
Adding Matter to your Raised Beds
Prior to obtaining your soil materials, calculate the amount of matter (in cubic feet) you’ll need using the simple Length x Width x Height formula. Choose a clean, high-quality garden soil or an organic mix that’s formulated for a raised bed. We suggest Coast of Maine’s Castline Blend Raised Bed Mix for general purposes.
Before adding your soil mix, you may want to consider adding a raised bed liner (or newspaper or cardboard) to control weeds. If pests are a concern, hardware cloth or mesh may be helpful.
Add your soil mix in layers of 4”-6”. Water and repeat until you at the desired level. You may want to consider incorporating clean compost or composted manure into the layers.
Maintaining your Raised Bed
Water your plants and vegetables consistent with their needs while monitoring for dryness given that raised beds typically drain more quickly than standard gardens. You may want to add mulch to help control weeds and maintain soil moisture. And fertilize as needed consistent with any applicable bans. As in conventional gardening, numerous options are available to provide nutrients to your plants.
Depending on the type of plants you choose, consider adding a trellis to support tomatoes, beans and others.
At the end of the growing season, naturally fertilize your garden by mulching plant residue back into the soil.
Now enjoy your homegrown, garden-fresh vegetables!