• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Everyday Shortcuts
  • Recipes
  • DIY Projects
  • Travel
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • DIY Projects
  • Travel
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • DIY Projects
    • Travel
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Gardening

    Raised Bed Gardening 101

    Published: May 24, 2016 · Modified: Sep 9, 2017 by Alison · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    raised bed gardening 101

    Raised Bed Gardening 101

    You may have heard a great deal about raised beds lately, as it seems more and more people are opting for raised beds over the traditional garden. There are many reasons why a raised garden bed may be ideal for you, and you will want to consider these reasons when planning your garden layout this summer season! So how do you know if a raised garden bed is right for you, and if it is, how do you go about planning a successful one? Well the good news for you is we have compiled some helpful information below with “Raised Bed Gardening 101” so you can decide if a raised garden bed is in the cards for you this year.

    So what is a raised gardening bed?
    A raised gardening bed is a garden that is planted within a (typically) wooden box above ground. Your plants grow up from the box and are never planted in the ground itself. They are typically constructed with wood although materials may vary, and they can be constructed in a variety of sizes.

    What are the benefits of a raised gardening bed?
    If you live in a cooler climate, a raised bed allows you to start planting sooner. Since the ground tends to be cooler in cooler climates, a raised bed can actually help heat the soil for earlier planting. Even if you live in a warmer climate, a raised bed can help you enjoy earlier planting as well as earlier crops.

    strawberries in garden

    Here are some other reasons people love raised garden beds:
    1. They can be made to any size so your garden is exactly the size that is manageable for you.
    2. They can be raised high or even on legs so that you don’t have to kneel or bend to access them.
    3. If you have less than ideal soil they still allow you to enjoy a garden.
    4. If you are short on space they still allow for you to enjoy a garden.
    5. Raised beds are easy to access, care for, and harvest from.
    6. A raised bed can be constructed anywhere, creating a garden where there was once empty space.
    7. They are earth friendly and made from earth friendly materials.

    raised garden beds tutorial

    How to you build a raised garden bed?
    Raised beds can be done several different ways. You can purchase raised bed kits via Amazon or at most home improvement stores. These will have the wood and hardware you need to create the bed in a size of your choice.

    Some people who want smaller gardens or simple herb gardens create their own with wooden boxes, crates, even dresser drawers. Just be sure there are drainage holes so plants can get the air and proper drainage they need. If you want to construct your own raised bed, you are basically building a wooden frame with an empty inside. There are all sorts of free plans on sites such as Pinterest where you are sure to find a simple step by step plan that can give you the raised bed you need.

    tilling the garden

    How do you care for a raised bed?
    You would care for your raised bed just like you would any garden. In fact, you might find it easier to care for. Since you aren’t planting in the ground you won’t have to deal with as many weeds. You might also find that pests aren’t as much of a problem. If you already have an existing raised garden bed make sure to till it before you plant seeds to loosen up the dirt.

    What do you do with your raised bed at the end of the season?
    At the end of the season you can simply use a tarp to cover your raised bed. Or, you can even enjoy cool month crops like kale and cabbage. You can leave your raised bed in place and use again next year, or if you need to disassemble it you can do that as well.

    gardening seeds

    Anything else I should know about raised garden beds?
    You can plant anything in a raised bed, from chives, to tomatoes, to cutting flowers, to squash. You will find that tending one is easy and they give people who normally don’t have the space to garden a chance to dig in the dirt! They can be a lot of fun, and save you tons of money when all of that fresh produce starts rolling in.

    If you are considering a raised garden bed, give these raised garden bed 101 tips your consideration. Happy planting!

    More Gardening

    • How to Build Raised Garden Beds from Wood Pallets
    • 7 Creative Seed Starter Ideas to Try
    • How to Grow Tomatoes in 5 Gallon Buckets
    • DIY Vertical Herb Garden
    FacebookTweetPin

    Alison is a wife and mother of three who embraces the simple life, finding joy in easy recipes, DIY projects, life hacks, and her passion for travel. Learn more about me!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Alison McFadden

    Welcome to Everyday Shortcuts, where I share delicious and simple recipes that anyone can cook, practical household tips and clever shortcuts to help simplify your everyday life. 

    More about me →

    Popular

    • 8 Easy Chicken Freezer Meals in One Hour

    • Crock Pot Coca-Cola Baby Back Ribs

    • My 3 Day Egg Fast Experience and Weight Loss

    • Copycat White Castle Sliders

    Holiday Recipes

    • 4th of July Cheesecake

    • Bomb Pop Cookies

    • Snowman Cheese Ball

    • Jingle Juice Recipe

    Footer

    Everyday shortcuts as seen on logos

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • About Me

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Press & Media
    • PR Friendly

    Alison McFadden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2025 Everyday Shortcuts. All Rights Reserved

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT