Guest Author - Diana Pederson

Health problems such as bad backs frequently make gardening difficult. This can affect all ages. Let’s look at how raised beds can let you continue to enjoy gardening.

Types of Raised Bed Gardens

Location: Anywhere in your yard including along the house foundation. The size is up to you but I recommend you make it only as deep as your reach. Also, consider hiring an industrious teenager to do the work for you.

How: Raised beds may be created in several ways. The traditional way is to use landscape timbers or wooden railroad ties to build the sides. You can determine the height needed according to your physical needs. Old tires can be stacked two or three high and filled with good potting soil to create a garden deep enough to raise various root crops or for flower gardening. I'd suggest using metal bars or fence posts to anchor the tires together and in the ground so they don't accidentally slide around spilling all your soil and ruining plants. If appearance is of major concern, the tires could be painted. Another option is to use large flower pots to grow everything from perennials to small trees.

Advantages of Raised Beds

1. It is easier to provide good drainage — particularly if you garden with heavy clay soil. Since the sides are not watertight, excess water easily drains out the sides. I've found this can be a disadvantage, too, if you try growing moisture-loving plants in a raised bed situation. Raised beds may require daily watering when it doesn't rain.
   
2. Each raised bed can have its own soil to suit specific types of plants. I used a raised bed to create a rock garden over highly compacted clay soil. Water gardeners may create raised beds lined with plastic in situations where it is impossible to have an in-ground pond.
   
3. Raised beds can be used to create level gardening areas on a sloping yard.
   
4. Use cement blocks to outline your raised garden. You can stack them as high as necessary if you cement them together. The holes in the blocks can also be used as planting holes.
   
   Please post your suggestions for creating raised beds in the Gardening forum.