Page 6 - Spring Catalog Final
P. 6

Raised                                                                                                                       cut flower garden as well. These days raised beds are reaching new heights. First imagined for


                                                                                                                                   wheelchair use, these higher beds have been a game changer for so many of us that have gardened
                                                                                                                                   throughout the years stooped over or on our knees.
      Garden                                                                                                                       1. Garden anywhere Raised beds have reimagined where we can garden. We are no longer



                                                                                                                                   restricted to a fixed spot in the yard. Think balcony, deck, patio… We can move our garden around
      Beds                                                                                                                         and off the ground at our convenience.

                                                                                                                                   2. Extending the gardening season on both ends. Because the soil in a raised bed is
                                                                                                                                   above the surface of the ground it warms up quicker in the spring and offers an earlier start to our
                                                                                                                                   garden chores, staying 6-10 degrees warmer throughout the growing season.

                                                                                                                                   3. Nutrient rich. The greater depth of the soil in a raised bed garden maintains a larger
                                                                                                                                   concentration of nutrients and is a more economical use of fertilizers and amendments within the
                                                                                                                                   growing zone.


                                                                                                                                   4. Easier on your roots! In a flat-plane traditional garden there is foot and equipment
                                                                                                                                   traffic which can compact garden soil which is not the case in a raised bed that is elevated and
                                                                                                                                   away from paths and walkways.


                                                                                                                                   5. Save water. Raised beds also make watering better for the plant material, water can reach
                                                                                                                                   the roots with no run-off and drain better as well.


                                                                                                                                   6.  Fewer pests. Because the plants are closer to eye level it’s easier to see insect damage and
                                                                                                                                   manage it quickly and it’s too high for rabbits to nibble vegetables.


                                                                                                                                   Because there are many raised        also one of my favorites—is the     herbs and flowers within your
                                                                                                                                                                                                            outside space and they always
                                                                                                                                                                        neat appearance they bring to
                                                                                                                                   bed options to pick from. I have
            “                                                                                                                      a variety to suit specific           the property and how well they      look attractive.                  of Cape Cod
                                                                                                                                   purposes. There are a couple of
                                                                                                                                                                        incorporate with shrub and
                    If you are new to gardening there are raised beds for
                                                                                                                                   legged (off the ground)
                                                                                                                                                                        perennial beds around them.
                                                                                                                                   lightweight plastic ones on my
                           whatever you want to grow.”  - Priscilla Husband
                                                                                                                                   deck where I keep my lettuce         A grouping of raised beds
                                                                                                                                                                        can be a mix of
                                                                                                                                   and herbs close to the               vegetables,
         The raised bed culture began with the Chinese thousands of years ago. There had been few                                  kitchen and some deep, ground
         evolutions to the suburban backyard garden until raised beds were re-introduced in the eighties                           up, waist-high large beds for
         in the U.S.  With all the varieties and options it’s a new and fun way of gardening.                                      all my vegetable needs set on
                                                                                                                                   the ground near my compost.
         Some raised beds have shelves below for your tools and watering can and others are very deep, from                        Raised beds come in plastic,
         the ground up to the waist, for larger vegetable gardening. Some are just a few inches off the ground                     wood and even a lightweight
         still with all the benefits that raised gardens bring. You can now garden on your patio, deck and in                      cement board that will
         small areas where ground gardening wasn’t possible before. I have even put wheels on my cedar bed                         last for years. One
         legs to move it in and out of the sun or wind on my deck.                                                                 last benefit—

         If you are new to gardening there are raised beds for whatever you
         want to grow. If you want to start with herbs or lettuce—there are
         shallow raised beds for that. Perhaps you want to grow beets and
         onions—there are deeper beds for that. And if you want to grow
         tomatoes and peppers there are trough planters—raised beds with
         a deeper center for deep rooted vegetables. The benefits are many
         for the vegetable gardener and I have even included a few for my
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