Why to Use Raised Garden Beds, Especially in Extreme Climates

Growing your veggies this way allows you to bypass the negative effects of regional weather and soil

My first raid into gardening was many years ago when my husband and I join another couple in renting a community garden plot in Arlington , Virginia . We inherited the worst plot of land in the garden , so we add hatful of constitutional issue and moved the soil to build up declamatory rows that were 8 to 10 in high for planting . It was a huge winner ! I have been arise myvegetablesin some sort of provoke bottom ever since .

There are many benefit to growing produce in raised beds : less soil compaction , since you do n’t have to walk among the plant ; relaxation of maintenance , with less stoop and bending required ; the ability to institute more densely , as the garden is accessible from many sides andpathwaysaren’t required ; and the ability to arise more food in a modified space . These are welfare that all gardeners can enjoy ; however , there are other benefits that I find particularly useful in ourMountain Westclimate .

Watering

We are all intimate with the continual drouth cycle in the Mountain West . While raise beds can dry out quicker than in - ground gardens , they also allow you to put the water precisely where you need it — at the plants ’ source zones . Whether you usedrip irrigationor hand watering , no water carry off to where it ’s not needed . In addition , denser planting shade the soil , helping to minimize evaporation .

Soil quality and drainage

Many of us who live near the Rocky Mountains haveheavy , clay soil , which is not an idealistic medium for most vegetables . Raised bottom allow you to control the soil in a small quad . I have bring in a soil - compost mix from a local provider , and I have used soil from other parts of my garden and heavily amended it withcompost . I incorporate more compost every year into each seam , providing additional nutrients and continually improving the land structure , which provides for better grime drainage .

Longer growing season

The grease in raise beds typically warm up before in the time of year and cools down slow come fall . This means you candirectly sow seedssooner in the spring and the harvest can continue further into the growing season . This is a immense plus when you have a inadequate growing time of year , as many of us do .

In addition , the material you expend to build the beds and pathways can raise this benefit . Over the years , I ’ve usedwood , concrete - retaining blocks , and metallic element to build our bed . The concrete block helped to produce a warmer microclimate for the layer than the wood or metal . I also use crushed rock for the footpath around the beds for the same reason ( and also for minimal maintenance ) .

Weather protection

Snowstorms in later May and early September are not rare in our region . And do n’t block about hail ! My raised beds are 4 feet tall and 8 foot broad , make water it very leisurely to cover them with tarps orfrost clothwhen postulate .

There are many benefits to growing vegetables in raised beds in your Mountain West garden ; I hope you will give it a try ! For more information about fire beds , check out :

And for more Mountain West regional report , penetrate here .

— Michelle Provaznik is executive manager of the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins , Colorado .

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