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Creating a Raised Bed Garden

© Diana Pederson

The Problem

Life has been good to you. You've always loved gardening and enjoyed the tasks that go with it — weeding, amending soils, planting, harvesting. Suddenly, or even slowly, something changes with your health and the tasks you found so enjoyable become extremely difficult. Should you just give up and quit your gardening activities? This is the route many choose to take. However, I believe the answer lies in adapting rather than giving up. The first task is to raise the garden up to a comfortable height.

Types of Raised Bed Gardens

Raised beds can surround your house or be out in the yard. You can determine the size and allow ample pathways for mobility. I strongly recommend having the beds made for you — it costs something at the start but the dividends will be worth it for years to come. Consider the investment to be a part of your "treatment."

Raised beds may be created in several ways. The traditional way is to use landscape timbers or wooden railroad ties to build the sides. You can determine the height needed according to your physical needs. One of the people I've met in cyberspace gardens from a wheelchair using raised beds. He is a very active Hosta grower and even has a water garden.

Old tires can be stacked two or three high and filled with good potting soil to create a garden deep enough to raise various root crops or for flower gardening. I'd suggest using metal bars or fence posts to anchor the tires together and in the ground so they don't accidentally slide around spilling all your soil and ruining plants. If appearance is of major concern, the tires could be painted.

A project geared for wheelchair-bound gardeners created gardens from plastic grow bags. These gardens were on wheels so they could easily be moved. Another option would be to place large flower pots on wheeled bases. These would last longer than the plastic grow bags.

Advantages of Raised Beds

Many gardeners used raised beds because they offer several advantages. First, it is easier to provide good drainage — particularly if you garden with heavy clay soil. Since the sides are not watertight, excess water easily drains out the sides. I've found this can be a disadvantage, too, if you try growing moisture-loving plants in a raised bed situation. Raised beds may require daily watering when it doesn't rain.

Second, each raised bed can have its own soil to suit specific types of plants. I used a raised bed to create a rock garden over highly compacted clay soil. Water gardeners may create raised beds lined with plastic in situations where it is impossible to have an in-ground pond.

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