Having a raised garden bed is the perfect solution for apartment dwellers, senior citizens, and those with limited space. They can have the same benefits of a beautiful garden without requiring a large space. If you're interested in having some elevated garden planters around your home, there are a few things that you may find you have to do a little differently in order to get the best results.
Soil Depth:
In an in-ground garden, you don't really have to worry too much about the soil depth before you begin planting. All you have to do is make sure the soil is loose enough for your plants to take root and spread if they must. But with a raised garden bed, soil depth is crucial to the success of your plants. If you plan to use your garden planter above natural soil, then you simply need to leave the bottom of the planter open so the plants can reach deep down into the soil. However, if you plan on using your elevated garden planters over concrete you'll need to have a pretty deep box. Experts recommend you buy the deepest beds you can find with a minimum depth of 10"-12" or make your own. Just remember, the deeper the bed the more soil you'll need to buy to fill it. Still if you're a senior citizen or someone with mobility problems this is a way to give you your garden without having to do back breaking work.
Location:
Where you place your garden will also be an important decision as well. If you're planning on growing vegetables make sure that your garden can get at least eight hours of full sun every day. You want to avoid placing it in low, wet areas where the soil could possibly get too soggy and end up drowning your plants. You also want to be sure that you place it in a location where it can have easy access to water, preferably a hose so you won't have to lug jugs of water back and forth to get it planted.
Tending:
Tending your garden won't require as much work as an in-ground garden. Raised gardens will naturally hold more moisture than the in-ground ones because the sides of the bed will help to retain much of the moisture the plants need and if you place it in an area that gets plenty of shade, it will keep the evaporation rate down to a minimum. Even weeding won't require much attention. In the first few weeks you may find that you have to do a lot of weeding but if you are diligent about removing weeds as soon as they crop up, they'll eventually stop appearing.
Having elevated garden planters is the perfect way to have a controllable garden that can provide you with fresh vegetables for your home. You'll also have the pleasure of creating something beautiful. Whether you're planning on having fresh veggies for your table every night or you just want to beautify your home with fresh flowers, you can have it all with your new elevated garden.