Introduction

The world of gardening is full of endless possibilities, which makes it hard to know where to start. It can also be confusing when people use different terms to describe the same thing (and vice versa). For example, what’s the difference between raised beds and garden beds? Do they mean the same thing? If not, what makes them different? Well, here’s a quick rundown of both:

What Are Raised Garden Beds?

Raised garden beds are containers that are filled with soil and planted with plants. They’re usually made of wood or plastic, but there are other materials used as well. Raised gardens can be built on the ground or up against a wall, fence, or even house foundation (as long as it’s not too hot). The purpose of a raised bed is to keep your plants off the cold ground and stop them from getting wet in heavy rains. A raised bed is also easier for people who have trouble bending over due to injury or age—you don’t have to bend as far down when you tend your garden!

Raised beds can be used for growing vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes; herbs like basil; flowers such as begonias; or any combination of these things!

Why Use Raised Garden Beds?

Raised garden beds are great for all of these reasons and more. Here’s why:

• Easier to maintain. Raised garden beds are much easier to care for than traditional in-ground gardens, because you can easily reach the soil with a hoe or trowel and tend to weeds without having to bend over so far. If you’re less able-bodied, this is definitely an advantage!
• Easier to access. A raised bed doesn’t require any bending or crouching, which makes it ideal for seniors who want to keep gardening but have aches and pains that make gardening difficult in conventional plots. It’s also perfect for kids—as long as they’re willing!
• Easier watering access. With a raised bed, there’s no need for stepping onto wet ground when watering plants; just fill up your watering can from above!

What Can You Grow in Raised Garden Beds?

You can grow vegetables, herbs and flowers in raised garden beds. Some people even grow fruit trees in them.

Should You Build Your Own Raised Garden Bed or Buy One?

Should you build your own raised garden bed or buy one?

Raised beds are relatively inexpensive, so if you’re on a budget and do not have the time to dedicate to building one, it’s best to go with the store-bought option. If you want to build your own raised garden bed, start by getting a plan together that includes all of the dimensions and instructions on how to build it. You will also need materials such as lumber and screws.

If you are new at building anything, this might be an area where it would be better for you to invest in something already made rather than trying out something that may not work out quite right the first time around.

How to Make Your Own Raised Garden Bed

If you want to build your own raised garden bed, you can use a variety of materials. One of the most common materials used in DIY raised garden beds is wood. You can choose from cedar, pine or redwood. If you’re interested in using recycled material to build your raised garden bed, try looking for old wood pallets that are free for the taking (just make sure they’re not treated with chemicals). If you’re feeling ambitious and have access to tools like a hammer drill and sawsaw, you could also consider building one out of concrete blocks or bricks—it will provide extra sturdiness but also requires more work than other options.

You’ll also want to consider how tall and wide your raised garden bed should be before starting construction on it. For example: A shorter version might be easier for people who don’t have much space available while still allowing them room enough grow vegetables; while taller ones might be better suited towards larger families or those who grow plants year-round since there would be more vertical space available compared with other shapes such as squares which only have two dimensions compared with three dimensions for triangles so if someone wants lots of tomatoes that need pruning without having to constantly bend over all day long then perhaps going with an oblong shape might help prevent back pain symptoms from developing later down road during retirement age when income becomes limited due inflationary pressures caused by higher energy costs which require us paying more money per month just because we want our food supply chain running smoothly without any interruptions occurring during transportation processes when something does go wrong; instead

How to Choose a Location for Your Raised Bed

The best location for your raised garden bed will depend on the plants you want to grow. If you’re hoping to grow flowers that require lots of sun, then choose a sunny spot. If you want to grow plants that need plenty of shade, find yourself a shady corner.

If your area doesn’t get much natural light, consider using artificial lights in order to provide additional illumination for your plants. Some people have found success by placing lights above their beds and using them at night before going to sleep as well as during daylight hours when they’re not there tending their gardens (though this method can be costly).

Materials for Building Raised Garden Beds

• Wood
• Plastic
• Stone and Concrete
• Rubber or Timber (treated wood)

How Deep Should My Raised Garden Be?

The depth of your raised garden bed will largely depend on what type of plants you’re growing. For most vegetables, a depth of 12-18 inches is best. This allows for the roots to grow deep into the soil rather than spreading out horizontally like they would in a shallow planter or container. A depth of 24 inches is ideal for flowers, as it allows them to develop strong roots that can grow down into the soil and support their large blooms.

For herbs, a depth of 6-12 inches is best—shallow enough for good drainage but deep enough that their roots can reach nutrients in different layers within the soil.

What’s the Best Height for My Raised Bed?

You may not have thought about it, but the height of your raised garden bed is a very important factor. In general, it should be 2-5 inches above the ground. If you’re using a board or hose to measure the distance between your bed and the ground, make sure that you don’t use something rigid like metal; this won’t provide accurate measurements because they can compress over time. Instead, use something flexible like plastic or rubber tubing. If you are measuring with a ladder instead of using tools to get an accurate measurement from above (such as the top of an old step ladder), make sure that there isn’t any dirt piled up against your raised garden bed so that there isn’t extra pressure placed on it when someone stands next to it at waist height level with their feet inside their own container rather than standing on top like most people would do if trying out different heights for themselves before deciding which one might work best for them personally!

Are There Any Plants That Don’t Thrive in Raised Beds?

Most vegetable plants thrive in raised beds. However, there are a few exceptions. “Potatoes, cabbage and broccoli are not recommended for raised beds because they need more soil space and grow best in loose, well-drained soil,” says Noel Kingsbury of the University of Kentucky Extension Service. “Raised beds tend to have compacted soil that won’t drain as easily as open garden soil.”

If you have heavy clay soils or sandy loam soils that drain well but have a tendency to stay too wet after rains, these vegetables may be worth considering for your garden—but only if you plan on building them up with compost and other organic matter every year so that they don’t stay too waterlogged during the growing season.

Raised beds also aren’t good choices for plants like tomatoes or peppers that require lots of sun exposure throughout the day; melons and cucumbers that want plenty of room to spread out; and herbs such as dill or basil (which can become invasive).

DIY vs. Ready-Made Raised Bed Kits

DIY kits are cheaper and more customizable, but they take time and energy to assemble.

Ready-made kits that are sold in stores or online are convenient, but they’re also more expensive than building your own.

Many people choose DIY because they’re able to create a raised garden bed that’s exactly the size and shape they want for their space. They can also use materials that work best for them: if you have an old table or bench you want to re-purpose into a garden bed, this is an option with a DIY kit! If you have tools at home like drills and saws, this kind of project will be much easier than buying everything new—and if something goes wrong along the way (which it might!), there’s no need to worry about returning defective parts or dealing with customer service representatives who don’t understand what you need help with.

Ready-made kits often come complete with all the materials needed for assembly so all you need do is follow instructions provided by whoever made them (rather than trying figure out which pieces go where). This means less stress when building something from scratch!

Growing veggies in raised garden beds is a great way to enjoy fresh, homegrown vegetables year-round.

Raised garden beds are a great way to grow vegetables. They’re easy to build, maintain, use, harvest and plant in. And the best part? You can enjoy fresh homegrown vegetables year-round!

Conclusion

We hope you’ve learned a little more about raised garden beds and are excited to start your own. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!