Introduction

To many people, gardening is an incredibly fulfilling hobby. Gardeners find joy in the process of growing their own fruits and vegetables, not to mention taking care of plants that beautify the outside of their homes. If you’re new to gardening, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Luckily, a raised bed garden is a great way for beginners to get started with gardening because it’s low-maintenance and works well in small spaces. While your experience will vary based on your climate zone and soil type, these tips will help you decide if raised bed gardening is right for you (and get started without too much hassle!).

Check the growing zone for your area.

It is important to know your growing zone before starting a garden. Not just because you want to grow the right plants, but also because your growing season is dependent on temperature. The list below will help you find out which zone you live in and what type of plants are best for your area:

• [Gardening Zone Map](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/harvesting-storage/vegetable-growing-zones.htm)
• [IPM Resources](https://ipm.ncsu.edu/)
• [Cold Climate Gardening](http://www.coldclimategardeningblog.com/)

Know which plants are best for raised bed gardening.

Raised bed gardening is an excellent way to grow plants that are not suited to the region. For example, if you live in a climate where temperatures can get very hot during the summer, then it may be difficult or impossible for you to grow certain vegetables, herbs, and flowers. In this case, raised beds can be used to grow vegetables that need more sun like tomatoes and peppers. Or perhaps your area does not get enough sunlight for flowers such as roses or lilies. In this case too, raised beds can be used for these types of plants.

Try companion planting to optimize spacing and soil drainage.

Companion planting is a technique that uses plants in a way that benefits each other. In the case of raised bed gardening, you can use companion planting to optimize spacing and soil drainage. Companion planting is also used to attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, which will help protect your garden from harmful pests like aphids or caterpillars.

Most importantly, companion planting is used to help plants grow better in certain conditions—for example, if you want tomatoes but don’t have a lot of space for them, try pairing them with basil (which likes warm weather).

Consider the height of your raised beds.

How high should your raised beds be? It’s a question that may seem simple, but it’s actually not. You need to think about how much you want to bend over when working in the garden and how much work you have planned for each bed.

If you’re growing vegetables in half-acre plots, then a three-foot high bed is probably fine because you’ll be able to reach most of what’s going on from standing up once it’s planted out. On the other hand, if your beds are only 24 inches tall (which would probably be the case if they were built for kids), then everything will require bending over or kneeling down—and that can get exhausting after awhile!

Take the time to prepare your soil.

The first step to gardening is taking the time to prepare your soil. This will ensure that your plants thrive and produce healthy fruits and vegetables.

To prepare your soil, add organic matter such as compost, peat moss or rotted leaves. Adding nutrients will also help your plants grow faster and provide you with a bigger yield each season.

The most important thing you can do when preparing your garden bed is adding organic matter. Organic matter helps loosen up clay soils and improves drainage in sandy soils so that water does not pool on top of it causing disease or fungus growth in a plant’s roots (causing death).

For easier harvesting, choose plants that grow upwards instead of outwards.

For easier harvesting, choose plants that grow upwards instead of outwards. The first gardeners chose crops that could be harvested from the top or bottom. They could simply harvest the fruit or vegetables from the top and not have to bend over and dig them up from their roots (which is often necessary when you’re cultivating root crops).

Plants that grow upwards can be harvested from the top—but if you have a raised bed with no fence around it, animals like rabbits can easily get into your garden and eat all your tasty treats! If this happens, try planting some edibles around your beds in containers so they’re harder for animals to reach.

These tips will help you decide if raised bed gardening is right for you, and help you get started without much hassle.

There are many reasons why you may want to start a raised garden bed:

• You are a beginner gardener and don’t have the time or money to spend on your soil.
• You want to start small, with just one or two plants.
• You live in an area that has poor soil conditions, but you still love growing your own food.

There are also some things you should think about before starting:

• Your growing zone is important! Make sure the plants that grow best in your area can also thrive in raised beds. Many vegetables need full sun (at least six hours) so be sure there’s plenty of room for them if this is something you’re considering doing yourself!

Conclusion

Raised bed gardening is a great option for people who have limited space or physical ability, and it’s also a good choice for first-time gardeners. By following these tips, you can get started with raised bed gardening without much hassle. Have fun!