Raised beds for desert gardens can be an ideal way to grow not only bumper vegetable crops, but it can also create a beautiful garden.
There are a great many reasons for building raised beds in the desert.
First, and foremost, is the work involved. It is much easier and quicker to place good soil in raised beds than it is to amend infertile and alkaline desert soil.
Second, raised beds can help conserve water, and in a desert or arid environment, that’s a great consideration.
Third, some materials used to build raised beds can help store heat during the day and release it during cool desert nights, helping keep the soil at more even temperatures.
Fourth, raised beds can help prevent too much stress on legs, back, knees and other joints.
Raised beds can be built with a variety of materials.
Some gardeners prefer wood, either using untreated landscape timbers, or planks. Other’s prefer manufactured stone, while still others like natural stone.
Heights also vary from 12 inches to several feet high. The bed should be wide enough for the roots of plants to expand, but narrow enough for you to get to it to remove weeds, harvest vegetables, etc.
Each raised bed should be of a comfortable length. It doesn’t have to be square or rectangular. In fact, raised beds don’t have to have any right angles in them. If you’re using stone or some other material that will let you experiment with shapes, then use your imagination.
Fill your raised bed with good soil, mixed with rich organic compost, perhaps some vermiculite to aid in water retention.
Remember the mantra of a good desert gardener: mulch, mulch, mulch!
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