Raised Bed Gardening

A raised bed is a contained growing area, usually framed with wood, metal, or stone, filled with a soil mix that sits above the surrounding ground. Beds are typically 6–12 inches deep and no wider than about 4 feet so you can reach the middle from either side without stepping on the soil.

You control the soil completely, so you sidestep poor native ground and compaction. Raised beds drain and warm up faster in spring, which means an earlier start. Defined edges keep paths and weeds out, and the height is far kinder on your back and knees.

Pick a level spot with 6+ hours of sun. Build or buy a frame and set it on cardboard to smother grass below. Fill with roughly 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% aeration (e.g. coarse sand or perlite). Water it in and let it settle before planting. Keep beds about 3–4 feet apart for comfortable paths.

Top up with an inch of compost each season — the level drops as organic matter breaks down. Avoid pressure-treated lumber for edibles; cedar, larch, or galvanized steel last well. Mulch the surface to hold moisture, since raised beds dry out faster than in-ground beds.