Preparing Garden Beds For Spring PlantingJesse Frost takes you through the steps of preparing beds to plant in spring. A few important aspects to think about include the length of the bed along with soil depth and path width.Line your garden with organic mulch such as grass clippings, or straw. This will smother weeds and help keep moisture in the garden.Easy to AssembleGarden beds are an excellent method of growing vegetables and flowers in a poor soil. They can be made of different materials such as natural rot-resistant timber, stone weave willow, recycled composite plastic lumber and concrete. Some are even made into furniture, providing an attractive and practical touch to the home landscape. Most kits come with everything you need to construct the beds. This includes pre-cut pieces like edges, bottoms and stands. Assembly is easy and only requires a few basic hand tools.It is best to begin the process by sketching your space, and then determining how many beds you need to grow all the vegetables and flowers you'd like and how wide you want to make the paths between them. Design the shape and layout of the beds, taking into consideration sun exposure. If you are able, take the Google Earth overhead snapshot to get a feel for the sun's direction and intensity in your garden.Before assembling the beds level the ground and clear the area. It is a good idea to spread an organic layer of compost such as leaves, grass clippings and wood chips that will transform into rich compost. This will help in reducing plants and keep the soil humid.When building the beds, be sure to avoid using pressure-treated wood such as creosote or pentachlorophenol-treated lumber, as these chemicals may leach into and injure plant roots. If you choose to use treated wood, you should put a thick layer of plastic between the lumber and the soil on which plants are growing to avoid direct contact.Before you add soil, cover the area with a thick layer of several layers of newspaper or metal hardware cloth if there are many tall grass and weeds. This will also deter burrowing pests like moles and voles. Once the weeds are gone they will be easy for you to remove.DurableIf you're looking to grow vegetables and flowers in your garden, a raised bed is a great alternative. They are simple to put together and are also durable, so they will last for years to come. There are a variety of garden beds to choose from, but wood is by far the most well-known. Galvanized metals are also becoming more popular. So, which starting a garden is right for you? starting a garden are better suited for building raised beds than other materials. Beds made of recycled materials like old railroad fence posts or ties could work well, but they are not as durable as beds made of galvanized steel or wood. In humid climates, they'll also begin to deteriorate more quickly.Recycled materials may contain harmful chemicals, such as chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), that will leach out into the soil, and even your food crops. Even repurposed homes gardens can have a problem, as they'll rust over time.Galvanized steel is less difficult to maintain than wood. It is also lighter than other materials making it easier to transport around the yard or an allotment. Galvanized raised beds are a great choice for those planning to move into a new home since they can be disassembled.There are other durable choices for garden beds, such as stone, concrete and brick. They are also fairly inexpensive and can add a nice design to your landscape. Use non-porous material to prevent rot.Resin and plastic are also durable materials which can be used for raised garden beds. They're not as expensive as wood, and won't get warped or rot in extreme temperatures. Some are available in a variety of colors to match your landscape, while others are naturally colored. Some brands boast that they'll stay clean for a period of 15 years.If you're seeking a unique design, consider using curved or round flower beds to create a more round landscape. These styles are especially attractive in gardens with a slope.Easy to MaintainMany gardeners construct raised beds to make gardening easier. This could mean reducing the need to kneel for long periods of time and preventing soil from becoming muddy following heavy rain or winds. It is essential to plan your bed in a way that is able to achieve the intended goal. The height of the bed and the plants you choose will determine the amount of maintenance it will require to stay looking good.A low-maintenance flower bed should feature hardy plants that will thrive year after year. You can also layer your plantings. Taller plants should be placed in the back, with the mid-height and ground cover plants lining the center. This makes the bed look more lush and full. By adding some evergreen plants, you can bring color to the winter.If you plan to use your raised garden to grow vegetables, it's important to build it higher in order to accommodate the different requirements for root depth of vegetables. The beds that are raised should be at a minimum of 4 feet wide. If it's wider, it's difficult to reach into without getting sucked into the soil. When you're ready to harvest your vegetables, you'll need to consider how far you're able to be from the edge of the beds.Raised beds for vegetable gardening must be covered with a weed barrier. This will prevent the soil from leaking out following a heavy rain and will aid in keeping weeds out. A plastic liner helps protect the soil from animal feces and other debris. If you're worried about the liner being too hot, try using breathable, biodegradable fabrics like jute or netting instead of plastic.Another method to cut down on the amount of work a raised vegetable garden requires is to add mulch. A layer of organic material, such as compost, shredded leaves or commercially bagged mulch, will help keep the soil cool and will help to reduce the transpiration. Mulching can also help in keeping the weeds out.A low-maintenance raised bed for flowers should feature shrubs that don't require a lot of care once established. Some great options include hollyhocks (Helianthus annuus) and honeysuckle 'White Delight' and sage (Salvia elegans). Select plants that are suitable for the light conditions of your garden. For a sunny border choose flowering plants such as Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile' as well as hydrangeas such as "Annabelle.' For shady areas, select heucheras, Sarcococca Hookeriana or mahonia eurybracteata. Ganpinensis "Soft Caress'.Great for KidsGarden beds are perfect for children as they let them have their own small garden with vegetables and plants which they can care for with ease. Gardening can also encourage physical exercise in the sunshine and fresh air. This helps to improve overall health and cognitive function. Gardening offers many educational opportunities.For instance, planting vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, and green beans is an excellent way to learn about nutrition. Then, kids can appreciate their hard work by eating the veggies which they have grown and took care of.A themed herb or vegetable garden is another method to engage children. A pizza garden, for example, could include all the herbs required to make a delicious pizza. This can help kids to learn about cooking with ingredients that they grew themselves. It's also an excellent opportunity to discuss the importance of eating food that provide brain-building vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.In addition to the nutritional lessons gardening is also ideal for teaching kids about the cycle of nature and the role that sun, water, and soil play in the development of plants. It's also a great method to gain knowledge about other food sources, and to learn why it's so important not to waste any of the earth's resources.Children also love to see their plant grow from a tiny grain to a fruiting plant. It's ideal for encouraging social interaction, as they will be working together in the garden. They'll also enjoy sharing the excitement of awaiting to see which plant will first sprout.Choose a raised bed garden that can meet the specific needs of your child to promote learning. A raised garden bed of 2 to 3 feet wide will provide children with plenty of room to reach and tend their own garden of vegetables and flowers. This size is ideal for gardens where lots of physical work is required, such as driving wheelbarrows or moving soil that is heavy.