Raised Bed Gardening: An Easy and Efficient Approach
Hey Flower Friends! I'm Kate, a passionate flower farmer here in the heart of Northwest Arkansas. My journey in gardening started with a few flowers in my landscaping and has now blossomed into a thriving flower farm. Today, I'm excited to share with you one of my favorite gardening methods: raised bed gardening.
Raised bed gardening is a game-changer, especially for those of us who want to keep things simple and sustainable. It's quite similar to no-till gardening, but even better. Raised beds are easier to keep weeded, require less maintenance, and don’t need tilling every season. Plus, they’re perfect for those who want to garden without the back-breaking labor.

 Prepping Your Site
The first step in creating your raised beds is to prep the site. Choose a sunny spot in your garden and start by laying down a tarp to kill the grass and weeds below. This step is crucial as it prevents future weed problems. After a few weeks, you can remove the tarp and lay down a heavy-duty weed barrier or simply use cardboard. Both options work wonderfully to keep those pesky weeds at bay.In the photos below, you can see I opted to use cardboard and mulch. The cardboard suffocated the grass, while the mulch kept it all in place. We did this about 6 months before we built our raised beds on this particular site.

We started by scalping the grass in the 25’ x 30’ space we designated for these beds.

Our girls helped lay the cardboard down while our boys helped move the mulch into place. Family farm hands are the best farm hands. ;)

The final result! We prepped our site in the fall and built the raised beds in the spring.
 Building Your Raised Bed
Next, it’s time to fill your raised beds. Here’s a cost-effective and efficient way to do it:
1. Start by laying down small logs and large sticks at the bottom of the bed if you have a lot of vertical space to fill. This helps with drainage and reduces the amount of soil needed.
2. Fill the bed up to about 15 inches from the top with mulch. This layer will break down over time, enriching the soil.
3. Finally, fill the rest of the bed with well-aged compost or a mix of 50% compost and 50% topsoil. Personally, I prefer using 100% well-aged compost for its excellent drainage properties. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to water more often if you choose this route.

Although you can’t see it in this picture, there is a layer of mulch under the compost.

All the dahlias are finally in place and ready to grow!
 Planting and Maintenance
Once your raised bed is ready, you can start planting! The great thing about raised beds is that they warm up faster in the spring, giving you a head start on the growing season. Plus, their elevated height makes planting, weeding, and harvesting a breeze.
To maintain your raised beds, keep an eye on the soil moisture. Raised beds can dry out quicker than traditional garden beds, so regular watering is essential. Adding a layer of mulch on top can help retain moisture and keep the weeds down.

Look at all the happy dahlias!Â
Final Thoughts
Raised bed gardening has been a blessing for my little flower farm. It's an efficient, sustainable, and enjoyable way to garden. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, raised beds can make your gardening experience more manageable and rewarding.
I hope these tips inspire you to try raised bed gardening in your own space. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need more advice. Happy gardening!

Our backyard micro flower farm!
Kate Myers,
M&M Flower Farm
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