Pros and Cons of Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening

 

 

Raised garden beds have gained popularity in recent years, especially for those growing vegetables. Introducing an innovative way to make gardening easier, they offer many benefits for gardeners at all skill levels. In the simplest terms, a raised garden bed is a container constructed of different materials such as wood, rock, or concrete, which is then filled with soil to grow different types of plants.

You can arrange different raised beds in your garden according to your available space, allowing you to grow a variety of plants separately. Due to their versatility and efficiency, raised garden beds offer a variety of advantages to their users. Many problems encountered in a traditional garden set up, such as drainage issues, weeds, and soil quality, are eliminated with the help of raised beds. In addition, the sides of raised beds provide structural support and prevent soil from eroding away during heavy rains. 

However, raised garden beds also come with some disadvantages. We have listed all the pros and cons below so you can carefully consider your options before making a decision.

Pros:

1.   Better soil for your plant: 

If you are living in an area where the soil quality is poor for growing healthy plants, then raised garden beds are the ideal solution. They allow you to control the soil quality and composition according to the needs of your plants. It is important to prepare good quality soil full of beneficial microorganisms to ensure healthy plant growth. 

The ideal soil type is sandy loam, which is essentially soil that is loose, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. You can buy specialty bagged raised garden bed soil to fill your raised bed or you can experiment by combining garden soil with potting soil, making sure to use more garden soil than potting mix, usually at a 5:1 ratio. You should periodically apply organic compost or mulch to your garden bed to improve the soil quality.

2.  Protection from the Weather:

Along with the ability to retain moisture, another benefit of using raised garden beds is protection from unfavorable weather conditions like floods. Raised garden beds will protect your plants from unexpected water damage by draining and warming faster. You can also move and situate your beds to a more optimal area. We recommend Vego metal beds as they are extremely corrosion resistant and durable, with a longevity of 20 years. Metal raised garden beds are especially beneficial in areas prone to flooding and marshy environments because they enable you to extend the growing season.

3.  Less damage from tunneling animals: 

Tunneling animals, which are difficult to catch, can cause extensive damage to your plants. If you want to protect your plants, you should grow them in a raised bed. Well-designed raised beds that are blocked off from below can protect your plants from tunneling animals completely. The sides of the bed also deter pests such as slugs from climbing over and invading your garden. If you are experiencing unwanted critters or infestations, consider investing in a raised bed to alleviate the pest problem. Vego garden extra tall garden beds are tall enough to stop animals such as deer from trampling over your garden, protecting the soil and reducing compaction.

4.  Less Weeds:

Many gardeners find pulling out weeds tedious. Fortunately, since there is no tilling required for raised garden beds, there will be less weeds, as tilling tends to deplete the organic structure of the soil and promotes the spread of weeds. The height of a raised garden bed prevents weeds from spreading to your garden. If filled with weed free soil and topped with mulch, your raised beds are far less likely to sprout weeds. You should refrain from using native soil, as it can contain weed seeds or herbicides.

5.  More Produce:

Raised garden beds result in significantly more produce by allowing you to plant more plants at higher densities, with the added benefit of shielding out weeds. You can plant more plants closer together or employ effective small-space techniques such as succession planting to maximize your available space and ensure better productivity. An organically rich, well-draining soil contributes to productive planting by encouraging the development of an extensive root system that is better able to access nutrients and water. Raised beds can yield up to four times more produce than the same amount of space planted in rows.

6.  Can be Placed at Anywhere:

Modular garden beds, such as Vego Garden products, offer you the flexibility to grow plants anywhere. They can be customized according to your preferences and gardening situation, allowing you to easily alter their dimensions. When cultivating your garden, you are not solely limited to the traditional grass backyard. Raised garden beds can be placed anywhere – the backyard, front yard, patio, driveway – even the balcony and rooftop. Just remember to choose a place that receives at least six hours of sunlight.

7.  Aesthetic Appearance:

Raised garden beds lend visual interest to your garden, allowing you to experiment with different shapes, sizes, and colors to produce innovative garden layouts. Gardens on the ground can look untidy, with unkempt grass and soil spilling over. The defined edges of a raised garden bed create dimension and add an ordered look to your garden. We recommend metal raised beds for an industrial, modern style for your garden, especially if you live in urban areas, where there is a lack of greenery. They can be placed on the patio or outdoor dining area to help brighten up the space.

 

 

Cons:  

1.  Continuous Drainage:

Raised garden beds have an excellent drainage system, which will remove the excess water from the soil. However, it can also drain away important minerals and nutrition along with the water, causing dehydration and drought stress to your plants during the summer, especially if you live in an arid environment. To alleviate this problem, you should use high quality soil rich in nutrients for your garden beds. A drip irrigation system or an additional application of mulch on the top of your bed to retain moisture can also prove to be helpful.

2.  Constant maintenance if you’re using wood material: 

While raised beds require less maintenance than traditional gardening, you still need to take care of the watering, drainage, and essential nutrition. In addition, you need to replace the material of your bed over time to maintain the health of your plants. Wooden beds will deteriorate quickly after a few years, requiring you to purchase new ones for replacement. 

Many woods used in construction contain wood preservatives that are designed to control problems related to wood degradation caused by fungal rot, wood-destroying insects, or sap. As a result, treated wood can cause chemical leaching, which is hazardous to both human health and the environment. 

Metal raised beds, like Vego Garden products, have a 20+ years of design life. We utilize high quality paint and hardware, making our products very sturdy and low maintenance. Check out our collections at: https://vegogarden.com/collections/all.

3.  Continuous Drainage:

Many people lack the carpentry skills to assemble and build a DIY raised garden bed. In addition, constructing garden beds can be a prohibitively costly and time-consuming endeavor. For example, a 4-by-8-foot brick-sided bed built by a professional will cost about $2,000. In addition, the cost to upkeep and maintain your frames will gradually accumulate, adding to your upfront costs. Fortunately, Vego Garden bed kits are easy to assemble and far less costly than building a garden bed from raw materials, especially if you are beginner gardener.