Does your back ache after a long day of gardening? Do your knees get sore from kneeling while you plant, weed or harvest your vegetables? Do rabbits routinely nibble your lettuce, beets, or kale? Do you have a limited amount of space for a garden? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, an elevated garden bed may be the answer to your garden woes.
Gardening in an elevated bed offers a means of planting a productive garden in a small space with less back-breaking work. It’s a cross between a container garden and a raised bed garden and offers the advantages of both gardening methods with the added benefit of being adjusted to a height that enables the gardener to maintain the bed without kneeling, stooping or bending. A traditional raised bed has no bottom and is relatively large, while a container garden has a base to contain the plants and growing media and is much smaller than a raised bed. An elevated garden bed is larger than a container garden while it completely encases the growing media unlike in a traditional raised bed. Since it is raised to a working height, it allows people with physical limitations or mobility issues to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, succulents and flowers more easily. An elevated garden bed is also ideal for gardeners living in apartments or condos, as long as the bed can be placed in an area that receives adequate sunlight.
Other advantages of elevated garden beds include:
- No weeds
- Easier pest management
- No concerns about poor soil conditions, such as alkaline, rocky soil or oversaturated clay soil
- No rabbits or other furry creatures nibbling on vegetables
- No soilborne fungal diseases
Once you’ve decided to add an elevated garden bed to your space, you should choose the plants you want to grow. The plants selected should have similar light, water, pH and nutrient requirements. Determining the plants you will grow will help you decide on the size and type of raised garden planter that will best suit the needs of the plants you have selected.
The next step is to decide whether to buy or build the planter. Ready-made elevated garden planters are offered for purchase online or at some retail stores. They can also be assembled by a handy DIYer using plans found online. Some key considerations when choosing an elevated garden planter include the following:
- The height of the planter should allow you to work in it comfortably.
- The planter should have adequate drainage.
- Materials used to construct the planter should be rot-resistant, rust-resistant, sturdy, and long-lasting.
- The legs or other structures used to raise the bed should be strong enough to support the weight of moist soil and mature plants.
- The planter should be deep enough to accommodate the plants you plan to grow.
Placement of the elevated bed is also important to ensure the success of the garden. Most vegetables and sun-loving annuals require six to eight hours of direct sunlight, so the bed should be placed in full sun when growing these plants. If shade-loving plants will be grown, the bed should be placed in a shady spot. It’s also a good idea to place your elevated garden bed near an outdoor faucet or rain barrel.
After the planter has been selected and placed, it should be lined with a material that allows for good drainage if the drainage holes are large. This will prevent the growing media from escaping through the drainage holes. The type of growing media used to fill the planter should be selected to meet the water, nutrient, pH and physical support needs of the plants selected. Vegetables require well-draining, nutrient-rich soilless or soil mixtures, while succulents require sandy mixes for optimal plant health. Fertilizers should also be added to the growing media before planting. Once the growing media and fertilizer have been added to the elevated garden bed, it’s time to add the plants.
After setting up your raised bed and then maintaining the proper water and nutrient levels, you can enjoy a successful garden in your elevated bed with minimal pain and effort.
By Donna Summerlin, ECMG Intern
For more information on growing a variety of plants in containers, including elevated garden planters, check these sites:
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2010/10/E-545_vegetable_gardening_containers.pdf
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/misc/container.html
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/roses/container.html
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/flowers/daylilies/daylilygardening.html