by Pamela Kay

Created on: July 06, 2008   Last Updated: February 28, 2009

The advantages of raised garden beds in your landscape are all about gaining more control of watering needs, weeding and soil composition as well as the added bonuses of enhanced aesthetics and ease of use. Next to cooperative weather and worms, raised beds are a gardener's best friend because they give you that control.

1-Space Control

Because there is no need to walk in a raised bed to tend it, you gain that space for planting and the plant roots are not stressed by compacted soil. You are able to use double row and square-foot gardening techniques which produce a greater yield per square-foot.

Regardless of the size or location, of your gardening space, a raised bed will give you more plants per foot. Front yard, back yard or side yard, along a fence, bank, patio or walkway, in full sun or shade, any shape, any size, anywhere you choose. With raised beds, you are in control!

2-Water Control

All plants need water, but wet feet they don't like. In a raised bed, the drainage is better and you never have to worry about standing puddles. This makes it possible to plant anything you choose except for water loving plants. You control the water.

3-Weed Control

Weeds will still find their way into your raised beds, but you will have little problem from creeping weeds and grasses. Sitting on the side of the bed, makes it much easier to pull the occasional weed. The raised beds also allow you to plant closer together which allows little sunlight to reach the occasional weed and will crowd them out.

4-Control of Planting

Raised beds warm up much faster than the surrounding ground, which allows you to plant earlier. They also stay warmer later in the season, allowing you to continue gardening longer. They are also easier to cover in the event of a late or early frost. So, you gain control of what you can plant in your zone.

5-More Soil Control

For anyone with hard clay, rocky, sandy or high alkaline soil, a raised bed is the answer to your soil problem. With a raised bed, you can build good soil in the bed only and not worry about the soil that surrounds the garden.

6-Control of Over-all Look

You are in control of how your garden looks. No matter what material you choose to build your raised beds, it will add texture, color and interest to your garden. Landscaping timbers, rough-hewed wood, painted boards or blocks, railroad ties, bricks, stones and river rocks are some of the choices landscapers use for creating raised beds.

The advantages of raised beds far outweigh any negatives. The only disadvantage I can think of is that you may need to water a little more often. Other than this, you can treat a raised bed as you would any other gardening area. Use garden art, birdbaths, interesting pots, rocks and even a shepherd's crook to hang a basket to enhance your enjoyment of your garden.

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