Using the right soil is as important as buying a healthy plant because both equally contribute to a healthy garden. Raised beds can transform even a dull garden into a healthy, beautiful one, but make sure the soil is of good quality. Any plant can thrive in the best-quality soil because soil provides all essential nutrients, supports roots, and ensures proper water and air flow.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, the key to a lush, green garden is understanding the reasons raised bed soil is effective. This blog explains the importance of soil and how it supports healthy plant growth.
Why is it Important to Start Your Raised Beds With Good Quality Garden Soil?
The first step to building a garden is to buy plants and seed packets with a vision of relishing fresh produce from the garden. However, it's important to realize that soil plays a pivotal role in producing healthy and fresh produce. High-quality garden soil is the foundation for healthy growth and strong roots.
While dreaming of juicy tomatoes and lush herbs in your garden, don’t overlook soil, as it is the main ingredient of healthy vegetables, fruits, and herbs growth. The purpose of a raised bed is simply to hold good-quality soil. Even beautifully built raised beds are of no use if the soil is poor. A nutrient-rich, well-structured soil will fill the empty spaces with sprouts, strong plants, and healthy harvests.
For a desirable output and long-term benefits, it is important for the roots and plants to grow in an ideal environment, which may require controlling and enhancing the soil mix. Using good-quality garden soil will wrap up the growing season with healthy production.
Two Essentials for Healthy Garden Soil
To have a strong base for a successful edible garden, it is important for the soil to be rich in nutrients and also allow water to pass through easily to the roots. The following are two major essentials that play an important role in how a plant grows and in the nourishment of the harvest.
First Essential: Nutrient
Just as human beings do, plants also require proper nourishment to perform at their best. A plant nurtured in well-balanced, nutrient-rich soil produces healthy tomatoes, herbs, and leafy greens that are rich in essential vitamins. When a plant grows in sandy, compacted, or dry soil, it lacks the essential minerals needed for healthy development and productivity. It is important to remember that healthy soil produces healthy food. Therefore, it becomes crucial that the soil be rich in nutrients, including vitamins, to ensure the food produced by the plant also contains the same nutrients.
Second Essential: Permeability
Another soil quality is permeability, which means the soil should absorb water to its full capacity and then release it to the roots. Just like a sponge that has two pockets, soil should also be able to hold on to air and water essential for a plant’s growth. Permeable soil allows water to seep into the roots without holding it.
A hard, impermeable soil blocks water movement and restricts root growth, leading to root rot. Poor soil structure will not only slow down the growth but also sabotage the entire plant.
Three Different Combinations of Raised Bed Soil
Mel’s Mix
Mel’s mix is one of the popular raised bed soil blends introduced by Mel Bartholomew in his book “Square Foot Gardening”. This mix consists of three main components: one-third peat moss, one-third vermiculite, and one-third compost. Since compost is a key component, it is recommended to use a variety of compost sources to create a nutrient-rich, balanced soil medium. Using low-quality or single-source compost often yields weak results, as many gardeners report. You can also create a unique blend of bulk compost from a landscaping supplier, worm castings, and chicken manure from your own backyard.
Perfect Raised Bed Soil
Perfect raised bed soil is another great mix suggested by Joe Lamp’l. This combination consists of 50% topsoil, 30% compost, and 20% organic matter. The organic matter can be made from readily available materials or your choice, such as homemade compost, worm castings, chicken manure, or other natural additives. If you want to offer a balanced, nutrient-rich soil that promotes strong plant growth, the perfect raised bed soil is ideal. It is one of the most affordable and effective ways to create a healthy environment for plants, using readily available ingredients.
Bagged Soil Mix
A bagged soil mix is another convenient choice, available at any garden store. This combination involves organic garden soil with added fertilizer, topsoil, and worm castings. For example, you can use 4 bags of organic soil, 2 bags of enriched organic soil, 2 bags of topsoil, and a few cups of worm castings. You can easily buy these products from stores like Home Depot or local nurseries. This method gives every plant a nutrient-rich, ready-to-use soil blend to promote healthy plant growth.
4 Easy Steps for Constructing a Garden Raised Bed Soil
Choose the Right Location
The first step is to select a spot in the garden that receives sunlight for a long duration. Many vegetables require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for better growth; hence, choose a bright, open area. If required, you can also trim some of the lower branches of nearby trees that cast shadows to let in more light. It is strongly advised not to set up a raised bed near black walnut trees, as they release a chemical that is harmful to many vegetables, such as tomatoes.
Plan the Layout Carefully
The second step is to design and position the raised beds' layout to ensure they receive maximum sunlight without overshadowing each other. Figure out the north-south direction in your garden and align the beds either in the north-south direction or the east-west direction to avoid the diagonal placement. Make sure to set up your trellis on the northern side of the bed and run it east-west if you plan to grow vegetables like beans, cucumbers, or grapes. Plant the shorter crops closer to the southern side. Using stakes and garden twine, you can mark out clear boundaries for the beds and pathways between them to define the space before construction begins.
Build the Raised Beds
In the third step, many gardeners prefer heights of 9 to 12 inches, although it can be built in various shapes and sizes; this depth allows the roots to spread easily. There are multiple options, such as wood, stone, brick, or synthetic boards. If there are groundhogs in your area, line the bed with hardware cloth to keep them out. For durable, safe options, choose untreated, rot-resistant hardwoods like cedar, oak, black locust, redwood, or Osage orange. Using pressure-treated wood or railroad ties can damage plants, as they contain harmful chemicals. Do not exceed the bed by more than 4 feet, as it will help you reach the center without stepping inside. Use a galvanized screw and reinforce the sides with stakes to avoid bending once the soil is added.
Fill the Raised Beds With Soil
In the last step, place cardboard at the bottom of the bed to naturally suppress the existing grass or weeds, and fill it with a high-quality soil mix rich in organic matter. Either buy nutrient-rich blends from landscaping suppliers or make your own by mixing 70% soil and 30% compost. This ratio will retain the moisture, offer essential nutrients, and enhance overall soil structure. It is advised to seek professional assistance if you are unsure what your soil needs to promote healthy plant growth.
4 Important Elements for Making Garden Soil Mix
Clay: For Strength and Root Support
Clay is composed of fine particles packed tightly together; hence, it is dense and less permeable. Clay's density can limit airflow and water movement, but it plays a major role in your garden soil. It provides structure and stability to the mix and helps the roots grip the soil as they grow deeper. Clay soil can feel sticky or compact, but it is ideal for providing strong, well-rooted plants.
Slit: Storing Nutrients for Plant Growth
Slit particles are medium-sized and allow better airflow than clay while effectively storing essential nutrients. Slit consists of rich minerals and organic materials that are deposited over time by water and rocks. The dark, rich color indicates the nutrient density. The slit helps provide essential vitamins and minerals to the plant's roots. However, it is important to know that the slit lacks firmness and can break apart easily.
Sand: Enhance Drainage and Air Flow
Compared to silt and clay, sand has the largest particles, which create plenty of space between grains. Sand is highly permeable, allowing water to flow through rapidly and preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged. Sand is mixed in garden soil to improve the porosity and create a sponge-like texture. Since sand lacks sufficient nutrients, it is recommended to pair it with nutrient-rich components.
Organic Matter: Bringing Life to the Soil
Organic matter is the life-giving ingredient made from decomposed plant material, leaves, and small organisms, which help fill the soil with essential nutrients.
