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There are about as many ideas for a raised garden as there are gardeners who use them. It is rare to find two gardeners who use all the same techniques and materials. This is a blessing, since it means that it is difficult to go wrong building a raised garden, as long as you follow some simple guidelines.

Raised or not, plants in a garden have some basic needs: sun, proper growing medium, water, and nutrients. When you make sure your plants get the optimum amounts of these, your garden is likely to be a success. (I say likely, because in gardening, there are times when circumstances beyond our control make it difficult. Think drought, hurricane, unexpected animal visits.) As long as the above needs are met, you can have a field day designing and setting up your raised beds.

Remember to leave a wide enough gap between raised gardens. Three feet is often recommended as a good distance that allows you, your wheelbarrow or cart, the bags of mulch you are dragging, and the overhanging leaves of productive plants enough room to avoid injury and conflict.

Keep the garden beds narrow enough to reach in to weed, water, fertilize, plant and harvest.

For the minimalist, consider simply hilling (piling up) a low mound of soil slightly higher than the surrounding area. The mound can be linear, square, or any other shape that fits with your overall garden design.

Soils have what is called a natural angle of repose. It means that each type of soil (and there are many) will pile up with a certain angle to the edge of the pile. Soils with more sand and less organic matter will have a lower angle, and won't make a nice tall pile, and therefore, not a neat raised bed. Soils with more clay and silt and organic matter will be able to hold a steeper angle, and it will be easier to keep neatly piled up.

These raised beds require no siding material, but since they are just a bit higher than the ground around them they will drain a bit better. Edges need to be maintained by periodic hilling with a hoe. Aside from any soil amendments to improve nutrients and pH, the existing soil can be used. Low spaces between raised beds can act as mini-reservoirs for rainwater that drains off the beds. Mulch on the beds reduces weeds and holds moisture also.

The next step up is the bag garden. It may not sound very high brow, but it is inexpensive, simple to build, and can be quite productive for small spaces. It is a technique being promoted in developing countries where soil quality,

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