Starting a new garden is always exciting, and a raised garden bed is a popular choice for those who want to have a beautiful garden without bending down to strain their back.
But how do you ensure that your raised garden bed is set up for success? The answer is straightforward, use the right soil.
In this blog post, we discuss the kind of soil you should use for a raised garden bed to make sure your plants grow healthy and strong.
THE MAKEUP OF THE SOIL
Your raised garden bed soil needs to have a layering system that promotes proper drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient delivery.
The soil should comprise three essential components, which are the topsoil, compost, and soil amendments.
Topsoil provides a foundation for plants to grow roots, while compost provides necessary nutrients for plant growth.
THE TEXTURE OF THE SOIL
Soil texture refers to the combination of soil particle sizes. Sandy soils, comprised of large particles, drain quickly, while clay soils, with smaller particles, retain moisture.
An ideal soil for your raised garden will be a sandy-loam mixture, containing a balance of moisture retention and water drainage.
pH LEVEL OF THE SOIL
The soil’s pH level determines the plants that grow well in your garden, where a pH level of 6.5 to 7 is suitable for most plants.
If you have acidic soil, you can add lime to balance the pH. Whereas for alkaline soil, adding sulfur or peat moss can decrease the pH level.
You can use a pH test kit to preform a soil test which are available at your local gardening supply center, to detect the pH level of your soil.
When testing, it is best to take several soil sample test in different locations of the raised garden bed to ensure that the pH levels are equal throughout the bed.
NUTRIENT-RICH SOIL IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCUSS
Plants grow better in nutrient-rich soil than in poor soil. Rich soil is important to give your plants the nutrients they require to grow well.
Gardeners often amend their garden beds with compost and other organic materials such as manure or worm castings.
The organic matter breaks down over time and gradually releases nutrients into the soil, providing much-needed food for your plants.
You Might Also Like: