Debunking Some Myths About Raised Beds

There are numerous advantages of raised beds over traditional in-ground planting methods. The most obvious one is that they maintain plants and are friendly to your back. Unfortunately, not many gardeners have accepted them owing to some misconceptions. If you are like most persons who think raised garden beds are a bad idea, you're wrong.

This blog aims at demystifying these myths and exposing the loopholes in them. Here are some of the myths:

They consume too much water

Most gardeners believe that they'll have to use too much water in this method, unlike traditional ones. You may not know that the conventional method uses the same amount of water or more because a lot of water gets evaporated or run down the pathway. Raised beds, on the other hand, absorbs the water and contain run-offs. It also prevents erosion in areas with heavy rainfall. The only time this bed may consume more water than usual is when the soil is too loose or sandy. Ensure that your growing medium has good water-holding qualities; else, it would dry out too fast. If you have normal soil, you wouldn't have problems with the bed retaining water for a more extended period. A wicking area at the bed's bed would also help to hold water.

The bed is overheated in hot climates

You don't have to bother about overheating with a raised bed. Its depth means that the soil below the surface is cooler than the normal one at ground level. Even if you live in a country where the weather is ruthless, your plants can still survive. And if you choose to go for beds made from metal, your plants still enjoy an average temperature because the material would absorb the heat.

They don't last long

After you have installed a high-quality raised garden bed, you can be assured that it'll last for more than ten years. Whether you use wood, metal, or poly, you're good to go. The wood may look tattered after a few years, but they still hold the soil in place and perform their task. Some materials are more available in some countries than others. Find the one available in your locality and utilize them to the fullest. Woods last about 15 years at most, but you can use metal for up to 40 years if you want.

Poor drainage

If you fill your raised bed with good garden soil and no drainage, you wouldn't have any problem. Most raised beds comprise mounds of dirt, including a border that keeps the ground from falling away. Because there's no base, the excess water will drain through the bed without any superior drainage. A standard raised bed mounted above the ground wouldn't need any drainage.