When should raised beds not be used?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Though very popular, raised beds shouldn't be used in every gardening situation. Avoid using them in areas where the soil drains poorly and remains wet for days after a rain. Raised beds in areas prone to high winds dehydrate the soil too quickly for practical maintenance. If your garden has a steep slope, you'll need to terrace the area extensively, which will add to the cost.
Poor Drainage Areas
- Raised beds become waterlogged without proper runoff
- Install French drains before considering raised beds
- Opt for mound gardening instead of contained beds
- Select water-tolerant plants like mint or taro
High Wind Locations
- Wind dries soil 3x faster requiring constant watering
- Create windbreaks with shrubs or fencing first
- Use sunken beds that retain moisture better
- Select low-growing wind-resistant crops like garlic
Steep Slopes
- Terracing costs exceed benefits for casual gardeners
- Build contour swales for natural water retention
- Employ keyhole garden designs on inclines
- Plant perennial groundcovers to stabilize soil
Gardens that require fixed reconfiguration struggle with permanent, fixed raised beds. This became clear to me after I discovered that my crop rotation plans conflicted with the fixed raised bed locations in my home garden. My former recommendations of always using a permanent raised bed design also became untenable. Instead, try using fabric pots or modular containers when implementing an experimental garden, because you can easily change the container location, as your gardening interests change from season to season.
Plants such as lettuce and radishes are shallow-rooted and don't merit spending money to build a garden bed. It's fine, shallow roots grow well in readily amended ground soil. I recommend reserving a raised bed for deep-rooted crops, such as tomatoes and carrots, that benefit from loose and aerated soil. Most green crops, I plant in the ground with the amendment of compost to save time and money.
Whether the sites are sandy or rocky, each will present its own challenges. Specifically, creating the beds means removing large rocks and importing soil to fill in the overall habitat. My garden in Arizona required a significant amount of excavation before I could implement the beds. In place of importing soil to fill the beds that were excavated, no-dig methods such as sheet mulching can build soil without disrupting the challenging-to-remove substrate. These methods can be more effective than raised beds in challenging situations.
When I find myself in a high-wind area, I rely heavily on different methods. Raised beds dry out very quickly and require effort to keep comfortably watered. In windy areas, I take a different approach and use sunken beds to retain moisture effectively. Planting a windbreak takes 2-3 years to establish. Still, it certainly creates an incredible microclimate that will support the growing of raised beds in the future. It is key to monitor wind patterns where you intend to put a garden structure.
Before selecting raised beds for your garden, think about your level of commitment. Raised beds require more maintenance than an in-ground garden. If you plan to travel frequently or are a busy person, other gardening methods may be more suitable. My very first set of raised beds failed during a peak garden season simply because I couldn't water them daily, and believe me, they needed it. If you want to try them, start small and see if it fits into your lifestyle before building major installations.
Read the full article: Best Raised Bed Materials for Your Garden
