Raised beds vs. in-ground garden beds - How to decide which is best for your garden
With spring around the corner (just one month to go, yeah!), now is the time to plan and prepare your garden beds!
When the weather starts warming up, many seedlings or transplants can be replanted, so it is great to be prepared and ready when that time comes.
Now your biggest question or concern when it comes to garden beds may be - Raised beds vs. in-ground garden beds, which should I choose for my garden?
That depends on many factors and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Scroll down to learn more!
I love to plant all our veggies in raised beds
RAISED BEDS VS IN-GROUND GARDEN BEDS
What is the difference?
Raised beds - A form of gardening where the planting bed sits on top of the existing soil and is raised from the ground. Usually, it is enclosed in three-to-four-foot-wide containment units, mostly made of wood lumber. But they can also be made with stone, bricks, or concrete. It is then filled with good-quality soil and compost to provide optimal growing conditions.
In-ground garden beds - The traditional way of gardening, where a distinct garden area is formed within the ground, by tilling, amending, and adding to the current soil.
Raised beds will work great when you have a very wet climate or have poor quality or compact soil.
In-ground garden beds may work better in very hot and dry climates or when your current soil structure and quality are optimal. More on why later on in the post!
Both of these garden planting methods have their place in gardening but we prefer raised beds vs. in-ground garden beds for many reasons.
Raised beds have many pros but they do also have some cons which I’ll discuss down below.
Jared always helping in the garden!
PROS AND CONS OF RAISED GARDEN BEDS
ADVANTAGES OF RAISED GARDEN BEDS
Better control
With raised beds, you have better control over the growing conditions such as fertilizer, mulch, watering, and, most importantly, the soil. Your native soil may be too clay, silt, rocky, and contaminated with pesticides and weeds.
You can fill the container with your ideal soil mixture for successful, healthy growth with raised beds. Here’s more info on how to make the best organic soil:
Our favorite organic soil recipe
How to make nutrient-rich soil
How to love your soil and make fertilizer
More space for roots
If your containers are the right size and deep enough, your roots will have ample space to grow, ensuring healthier, bigger plants.
Obviously, in-ground beds also have depth, but if your soil is poor or has many rocks, you may struggle to till and amend the ground deep enough.
The most popular height for raised beds is 12″, which provides sufficient drainage for most crops. For best results, there should be another 12″ or more of good soil below the bed, giving your plants at least 18 – 20″ of soil.
More accessible
It is easier on the back and knees when your beds are raised. For people with mobility problems, higher raised beds are easier to access but remember to keep it to 3 feet wide to reach everywhere.
More pest-resistant
But not totally resistant!
Having raised beds makes it harder for pests such as snails, slugs, and rabbits to reach. Burrowing pests like gophers and moles can also be blocked from below if you have a solid bottom like concrete.
Yes, in-ground beds can also be covered with nets to protect against slugs, birds, squirrels, and others, but not against those who dig.
rAISED BEDS ARE EASIER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
Less weed invasion
Again not totally resistant!
Raised beds make it easier for you to notice and contain weeds. It also helps if your bed is filled with weed-free soil, where native soil has a significant chance of containing weed seeds.
Borders from raised beds also prevent weeds from creeping in. Consider adding a weed barrier at the bottom when designing your raised beds.
It can be placed anywhere
With in-ground beds, you are limited to where you have soil and other factors such as shade and full-sun spots.
But with raised beds, you can decide where you want to place or build them. It can even be on your patio, balcony, or rooftop! Always ensure it has good drainage and a bottom to contain the soil.
Longer growing season
Raised beds warm up quicker in the spring, allowing for a longer growing season. This means you can get planting and growing earlier. Yeah!
Whereas with in-ground beds, you would need to wait longer for the soil to warm up and plant later in spring.
Beautiful aesthetically
Beautifully made wooden raised beds add so much charm and look tidier. Of course, this is a personal preference more than a pro ;-)
DISADVANTAGES OF RAISED GARDEN BEDS
Dries out quicker
Raised beds tend to dry out quicker and may need more frequent watering. Whereas in-ground beds retain moisture better. (raised beds are, however, better protected against flooding).
So in a scorching, dry climate, you may want to consider in-ground beds. Irrigation for in-ground beds is often easier to install and manage.
More expensive
Raised beds require much more upfront costs for the material to build and the soil to fill it. Making it more expensive than soil and beds that are already at your disposal.
They require time and handy skills to build them and will also eventually need repair or replacement in the case of wood.
They are much more permanent
In the case where you built raised beds with concrete or brick. And you are limited to square and rectangular shapes. With in-ground beds, you have more flexibility and can design creative shapes.
Not ideal for all crops
Not all crops thrive in raised beds. For example, sweet corn requires larger blocks of plants to pollinate, and watermelons can overtake small raised beds.
The soil cools quicker
Just like the soil warms quicker in spring, it also cools faster and freezes earlier during winter. Providing less protection for your plants against frost and frigid nights. In-ground beds will retain heat for longer.
The advantages of raised garden beds far outweigh the disadvantages for us. It makes gardening such a pleasure and more manageable for me.
I also love that I can apply companion planting techniques in my beds, which promote plant health and acts as ORGANIC PEST CONTROL in the garden.
I hope these points will help you to decide which garden beds will work best for your garden. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or email me at hello@azurefarmlife.com.
Love, Annette xx
If you would like to read more on how to plan your garden, these posts may be very helpful:
Tips on how to plan your spring garden