Raised Beds – Plans and Tips

Q: Do you have plans for a raised vegetable garden?

A: Raised beds make a lot of sense because they are easier to manage and the soil can be amended to make it perfect for vegetables. Personally, I use 2″ x 6″ boards to line my beds. I make the beds 36″ wide and 8′ long. I pour a three inch layer of soil conditioner plus an inch of gritty sand onto the native soil inside the bed and mix everything thoroughly and deeply until the soil is soft and loose. I bring in more amended soil, if needed, from other parts of my landscape to fill the bed completely. I have a good list of downloadable University of Georgia gardening publications at http://www.walterreeves.com/food-gardening/uga-vegetable-gardening-publications/.