Raised Bed Gardening Raised bed garden plants are grown above ground level in a structured bed. As an alterna- tive to traditional in-ground gardening, raised beds provide unique opportunities for peo- ple with limited space, physical disabilities or contaminated ground soil. While this type of gardening can be more expen- sive and require more work to set up initially, the many bene- fits make it worthwhile to many gardeners. Raised Bed Gardening Flexibility—Raised bed gar- dens can be customized to your unique needs and prefer- ences. They can be built in almost any shape, size or local on and with a variety of materi- als. Accessibility—Beds can be built to any height, allowing gardeners to work while sitting or standing, providing more comfortable gardening and a great option for persons with physical disabilities. Safety—Raised beds provide a barrier between your growing space and contaminated soil. If the safety of your soil is un- known, soil tests can be done but can be more costly than building an above ground gar- den. Soil Control—Traditional gar- dening typically allows for ex- tra nutrients to be mixed into the soil several inches deep. In raised bed gardens soils are custom mixed to ensure proper nutrients and texture through- out the entire bed. This also allows beds to drain water more efficiently, preventing over watering Efficient Productivity— Compared to gardening in the ground, raised bed gardens can require less water and produce higher yields. The absence of pathways through the garden bed reduces water use, allows for dense planning, and elimi- nates soil compaction issues. The dense planning patterns, means dense plant foliage as well, reducing water evapora- tion and keeping plant roots cooler. Weeds and other pests have a more difficult time reaching raised bed gardens. Beds warm faster than the ground allowing soil to be worked sooner. Opportunities for Art—In addition to making beds out of a variety of materials in any shape or size, they can also be decorated, adding creativity to gardening. Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening February 2010 Volume 10, Issue 1 Raised Bed Kits Kits are available that include materials and instructions for building a raised bed garden. They can be ordered in a variety of sizes and styles. They can be more expensive than making your bed by hand but can also be easier to build and save time. Natural Yards http:// naturalyards.com/ raisedbeds/ Raised Garden Beds http://www.raised- garden-beds.com/ PO Box 521033 Salt Lake City, UT 84152-1033 The information below is from: Alternative Garden Club
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Better drainage Growing plants in raised beds is a
logical choice for gardeners with heavy, poorly
drained soils. Raised beds permit plant roots to de-
velop in soil held above water-logged or compacted
zones. This provides a more optimum soil environ-
ment for root growth. As beds are built up, compost
or other forms of organic matter may be incorpo-
rated, further improving soil structure, drainage and
nutrient-holding capacity.
Higher yields Better root growth from improved soils
leads to higher yields for food crops and lusher
growth of ornamental plantings. Also, intensive
planting in raised beds means more plants can be
grown in a smaller area than with conventional row-
cropping techniques. No space is wasted between
rows.
Expanded growing season Better
drainage speeds soil warming and
allows earlier spring planting. In wet
seasons, soil dries out faster, permit-
ting planting to proceed between
rains.
Maintenance Because plants are grow-
ing above the level of walkways, less
stooping is required for weeding, wa-
tering and other chores. Intensively
planted raised beds provide dense
foliage cover, shading out much weed
growth.
Using difficult sites Raised beds make
gardening possible on sites where
growing plants would otherwise be
impossible. Rooftop gardens and
raised beds on top of solid rock are
examples. Terraced raised beds turn
hillsides into productive growing areas
while reducing soil erosion potential.
Alternative Garden Club
2010 Officers and Calendar
President ................................................................. Bruce Spiegel ................................................................. (801)583-3867
President Elect (V.P.) ........................................... Dave Mash ...................................................................... (801)999-9999
Tour Director ........................................................ Available position ............................................................ (xxx)xxx-xxxx
Treasurer ................................................................ Dave Mash ...................................................................... (801)999-9999
Newsletter ............................................................. Don Roylance ................................................................. (801)484-6414
Float Coordinator ................................................. Available position ............................................................ (xxx)xxx-xxxx
Hospitality Coordinators ...................................... Carol Masich and Claire Biltz ....................................... (801)282-6569
Hospitality Coordinator ...................................... Mike Eardley ................................................................... (801)999-9999
Service Project Coordinators ............................... Carol Masich and Claire Biltz ....................................... (801)282-6569
Monthly meetings to be held at 7:30pm in the Sugarhouse Park Garden Center @ 1602 East 2100 South, some meetings may depart from building for field trip or service project.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 2010
3 – Monthly meeting – Doug Hughes – Conifers and
Dean Anesi – Pruning. Please bring branches and clippers to use to practice pruning.
Please remember monthly dues this month. $20 per person.
March 2010 3 – Monthly meeting – Dean Anesi – USU Vegetable Gardening
April 2010 7 – Potluck
May 2010 5 – Monthly meeting – Jim McCormack – Irrigation
Date? – Spring City Home Tour (date to be confirmed and more details later)
June 2010
2 – Monthly meeting – Russ Pack – Topic TBD
Date? – Pride Day (date to be confirmed)
Date? – Chicken Coop Tour (date to be confirmed and more details later)
July 2010 7 – Potluck and Tour at the Red Butte Garden
August 2010 4 – Monthly meeting – Wayne Padgett – Topic TBD
September 2010 1 – Monthly meeting – Geoff Ellis – City Forestry
6 – Labor Day Potluck – Site 24, City Creek Canyon (Brett and Don)
October 2010 6 – Potluck
November 2010 3 – Monthly meeting – Dean Anesi – Center pieces
December 2010
1 – Monthly meeting – Bruce Spiegel – Show and Tell
Date? – Christmas Open House Tour and Potluck (date to be confirmed and more de-tails later)