Better drainage is one of the many benefits of
raised bed gardening, but the perfect balance of water retention and
permeability doesn’t come out-the-box. It takes knowledge, know-how, and a bit
of experimentation to get just right. Whether you’re just starting out or
trying to find ways to improve a bed with waterlogged soil and wilting plants,
this guide has you covered.
Let’s get started.
Start With a Good Base
Good drainage should be the foundation of your
raised garden bed – literally! Let’s go over a few of the ways you can prep a
new raised garden bed with good drainage in mind.
Location Is Everything
Sunlight isn’t the only thing you need to
worry about when deciding where you’re going to setup. You want to be aware of
what’s underneath, too. Check the soil around your yard. Sandy, loose soil is
optimal for starting a raised garden bed because it drains well. If you’re
working with clay, you may want to turn the soil and add some sand to create
better drainage. If you’re building on concrete, opt for a taller garden bed to
give the soil and your plants more room to drain.
Give Water a Way to Escape
By adding either drainage pipes or a good
foundational material to the bottom of your bed, you’ll ensure your garden
drains well. Remember that sandy soil drains well. You can add sand to other
types of soils to improve its drainage. You may also want to consider putting a
liner in the bottom of your garden bed. Just make sure it’s water permeable,
and keep in mind that certain liners may make it impossible for earthworms to
get into your garden naturally.
Maintain or Improve Drainage Once
You’ve Started
A good start will go a long way, but there’s
more you can do to maintain or improve drainage on your raised garden bed. It
starts with the soil, and what you decide to add to it.
Add Amendments to Improve Soil
Quality
Where gardening is concerned, an amendment is
any material you add to the soil to change or improve its physical properties.
Compost is an easy classic – a customized fertilizer you can make yourself to
fit your garden’s exact needs. Not only does compost help with drainage, it can
add a ton of nutrients to your soil. Other amendments that help with drainage
include sand, hay, and perlite.
Make Sure Your Plants Have Room
to Breathe
Not only will compacted soil deprive plants of air their roots need, but it will be more difficult for water to drain away. To avoid this, aerate the soil by turning it with a shovel and planting cover crops in your off seasons.
If you need more assistance, get earthworms.
They can aerate the soil for you! Worms can be purchased from bait shops,
garden centers, and online if you can’t transplant them from your own yard.
We’re Your Green Thumb
Now that you know the steps you can take to
ensure good drainage in your raised garden beds, you’re ready to take control
of how you grow your herbs, flowers, and veggies. Need soils, amendments, or
just have more questions about raised bed gardening? Stop by Gateway
Home and Garden Center in Warrenton today!
