by margaret

Mid-winter is by far the itchiest time of year for a gardener. No, I’m not talking about rashes, but the desire to get back outside and work in the garden, yet the temperatures are still too cold and unstable for planting. This is a good time, however, for building for your garden.

Anything from small sheds and archways, to arbors and water features can be
constructed in virtually any temperature. One of the more basic projects you
can complete in less than a day is to build raised beds.

Whether you want grow vegetables, fruiting bushes, annuals
flowers, perennials, or herbs, a raised bed provides a lot of advantages to
gardeners. Raised beds make warm soil temperatures earlier in the season, give
more defined borders than ground level beds, allow greater control over the
quality of the soil in the bed, and can limit the amount of weeds in the
garden. Many gardeners also find that working in a raised bed is less strenuous
than tending a ground level bed. Raised beds can also be constructed as tables
for those limited in mobility or confined to wheelchairs.

There are multiple ways to build raised beds from stacking
stones to nailing boards together, and any number of shapes and sizes possible
to suite your personalized vision of your garden. A simple square or rectangle
can make “square foot” gardening a snap, or a hexagon or circle can add
interest for casual growth. Narrow raised beds only about a foot wide can trail
alongside walkways for added effect.

No matter the shape you choose, make sure your raised bed is
placed in a location where the right amount of sunlight hits it to support the
types of plants you want to grow. A raised bed of hostas will work well next to
the shady side of your house, but that same bed will fry your plants if it sits
center stage in the middle of an open yard. The reverse is true for sun-loving
plants set into shady raised beds.

Once you’ve looked over a few plans for raised beds to
decide on yours, you can take advantage of these warmer winter days to build
it. With a finished bed filled with soil and ready for planting, you’ll be prepared
for seed starting or buying your favorite tender seedlings when the time is
right. Whether you want to grow a tea garden, butterfly attraction, or a rose
garden, a raised bed can lift those winter spirits.