RAISED GARDEN BEDS Maximum Yields in Minimum Space

Should we be concerned?

What is wrong with this picture?

AND THEN THERE WAS NONE…..

Vertical Gardening Advantages

Requires less space Easier to harvest Better air circulation to help prevent disease More difficult for some bugs to attack produce Improved soil conditions- less compaction Accessible for planting early in the Spring, no tilling Conserves water

Building Blocks- Raised Beds

Native material

Raised Vegetable Bed Considerations

Location- most of the garden needs full sun Layout- shapes and sizes Bed Size- must provide easy working access Soil Amendments Irrigation Pathway cover material

gravel Hardscape Bark

Raised Bed Construction

Compost-Rich Soil

Soil Recipe for Raised Beds

Raised beds need special soils to achieve peak performance. Compost Coconut Coir/Fiber instead of Peat Moss Vermiculite Soil OR buy ‘grow box mix’ soil from Miller

Raised Bed Soil Tests Central Utah Gardens

USU Ogden Botanic Garden

Irrigation Options

Vacation-proof garden box irrigation

Raised Bed Considerations

Minimum of 6” amended soil Vary heights for different crops Built in seating? Beds with 2 sided access can be up to 4 feet wide Beds with 1 sided access should be 2 feet wide Materials- not all wood is suitable!

Trex or plastic lumber Untreated cedar or redwood May use untreated pine etc. but lifespan will be shorter

Grounds for Coffee Community Garden Ogden, Utah- Low Beds

Mid-height Beds with Seating Ogden Botanic Center

Raised Beds with Seating Weber Basin Learning Garden, Layton Utah

Permanent or easy to move- Both provide the raised advantages

Multiple Bed Heights

Other Vertical Ideas

Right Plant, Right Place

Vertical structure is not sturdy enough to support a heavy Wisteria vine and is improperly installed.

Mini orchard, two ways

Pergolas + Trellis USU Ogden Botanic Center

Trellises

Old Ladder

Bamboo Trellis by Deidre Pope Old Baby Crib Trellis

By “From Scratch Club”

Peek-a-Boo Trellis

Horse Fencing

More Trellis Ideas

Design by Digginfood.com

Obelisks

Strawberry Tower By Shirley Bovshow

Season Extending

Light weight row cover

Hoop Houses w/ Plastic

Season extending “hot house” with cover. Small crops such as radishes and lettuce grow through most of the winter.

Design by Bark & Bloom

Hoop House with Shade Cloth

Lettuce with Shade Cover Design by giantveggiegardener.com

Hoop House with Floating Row Cover

Thin PVC Pipe Hoops/ with floating row cover

Rigid PVC Pipe ‘boxes’

For Those Really Cold Nights

Relax & Enjoy!

Above: Sunset Magazine Center: Fine Gardening