By sunny 
Raised flower beds are often thought of as being exclusive to small domestic gardens, but in fact they are just as widely used in larger gardens where poor soil texture is a problem. Whether the soil is poor and stony, or in areas with a high water table and heavy rainfall, raised flower beds can be an effective solution to poor drainage and soil fertility.
Benefits of raised garden beds
For those facing soil challenges, raised flower beds offer a number of benefits. Not only does it solve drainage problems, but it also avoids the use of poor soil. Some raised flower beds use natural soil from the ground, while others choose to leave them vacant and filled with organic material such as leaves, waiting for soil conditions to improve before planting.
The soil in raised flower beds is never trampled, so it remains loose and favours the development of plant roots. Weed problems in raised garden beds are also greatly reduced when a weed-free soil mixture is used.
Raised flower beds provide the ideal environment for a wide variety of plants to thrive, whether they are fruits such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, or vegetables, herbs and flowers.
Materials for building raised flower beds
There are a variety of materials used to build raised flower beds. The simplest raised flower beds require only a few centimetres to a dozen centimetres of soil to be piled high, and do not even require a border. This type of raised garden bed is common in country yards and helps the soil to drain quickly and provides extra nutrients for shallow crops.
However, many yards will opt for raised garden beds with borders, which can be made of wood, stone or concrete. Which material you choose depends largely on cost and availability.
Wood used for raised garden beds
When it comes to wood, cedar is ideal for making raised flower beds due to its rot resistance, while hemlock is a less costly alternative. Juniper and redwood are also common choices. Be careful, however, to avoid pressure-treated woods, as they may contain chemicals that are harmful to plant growth.
Other building materials
In addition to wood, there are a variety of other materials to choose from, such as concrete blocks, natural stone or brick. Wooden planks made from recycled plastic are also an eco-friendly option.
Additionally, you can use bales of hay or straw as borders for raised flower beds. While straw will decompose after one season, you can move it to the compost pile and use new bales the following year.
Sizing considerations for raised garden beds
Size is an important consideration when constructing raised flower beds. To ensure that the flower bed can be easily accessed from all directions for management and maintenance, the ideal width should be between 90cm and 120cm.
While there are no strict limits on length, keeping raised flower beds between 2.5 metres and 7 metres in length facilitates crop rotation and ensures that each crop can be planted in completely new soil, thus making it easier to change the soil and keep pests at bay.
Raised flower beds should be at least 15 cm deep and up to 90 cm deep. If the soil underneath the bed is of good quality, the plant’s root system will naturally extend downwards and continue to grow.
By designing the size and choice of materials for your raised flower beds wisely, you can add a planting area to your patio that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical. Whether you have a small home patio or a large one, raised garden beds can be ideal for enhancing soil quality and landscaping.