Raised garden beds are one of the most popular additions to outdoor spaces, offering versatile planting options as well as providing optimal control over soil quality, watering, and plant protection. To ensure the success of a raised bed garden, it all begins with choosing the right soil. In this blog post, Kedel explore the best soil options for raised planter beds, tips for winter plant protection, and the advantages of Kedel’s recycled plastic raised garden beds over their wooden counterparts.

What Soil Is Best for Raised Planter Beds?
The selection of soil for your raised planter beds is critical, as it directly impacts the health and productivity of your plants. Ideally, a good soil blend should be well-draining, nutrient-rich, and retain moisture adequately. Let's take a look at two popular soil options for raised bed gardening.

Garden Soil Mix:
One common choice is a mixture of topsoil, compost, and organic matter. Topsoil provides the necessary texture and structure, while compost enriches the soil with essential nutrients and encourages microbial activity. This blend is perfect for vegetables, herbs, and flowers, as it promotes excellent drainage, prevents compaction, and facilitates healthy root development.

Mel's Mix - The Square Foot Garden Soil:
Another popular option for raised planter beds is Mel's Mix, also known as the Square Foot Garden Soil. This revolutionary blend, developed by Mel Bartholomew, combines equal parts of compost, peat moss, and coarse vermiculite. Mel's Mix exhibits exceptional water-holding capacity, excellent drainage and provides optimal aeration for plant roots. It is particularly useful for gardeners with limited access to quality topsoil, as it creates an ideal growing environment for a wide assortment of crops.

Protecting Raised Bed Plants During Winter
With the change of seasons, winter poses unique challenges for raised bed gardens. However, with a few simple precautions, you can ensure the longevity of your plants.

Mulching:
Applying a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, to the surface of the raised bed helps regulate soil temperature, reduces weed growth, and preserves moisture. Mulching also acts as a protective blanket during frosty nights, shielding delicate root systems from extreme cold.

Cold Frames and Row Covers:
For added protection, consider the use of cold frames or row covers. Cold frames are transparent structures that trap heat from sunlight, creating a microclimate conducive to plant growth. Row covers, made of lightweight fabric, shield plants from wind damage and reduce frost exposure.

Recycled Plastic Raised Garden Beds: A Sustainable Alternative to Wood:
Kedel's recycled plastic garden beds are a great choice for gardens of all sizes, but let’s take a closer look at the advantages of choosing recycled plastic over traditional wood planters.

Durability and Longevity:
Recycled plastic garden beds are incredibly durable, resistant to rot, and unaffected by moisture or pests. Unlike wood, they do not promote the growth of fungi or bacteria, ensuring the longevity of the beds.

Environmentally Friendly:
Using recycled plastic for raised beds reduces the demand for new timber, conserving valuable forests. Additionally, recycled plastic beds can be recycled once they reach the end of their life cycle, contributing to a closed-loop system.

Ease of Assembly and Maintenance:
Recycled plastic raised beds are lightweight, making them easy to handle and install. They require minimal maintenance, eliminating the need for regular sealing or painting, which is typically necessary with wooden beds.

Further Reading: 10 Benefits of Switching to Recycled Plastic Garden Beds

With the right soil blend, suitable winter protection, and environmentally conscious choices such as recycled plastic raised garden beds, you can create a flourishing and sustainable raised bed garden. Kedel offer a wide range of garden essentials alongside our recycled plastic planters. Upgrade your outdoor space in time for the summer with recycled plastic garden furniture, plastic fencing and more.