Best Soil for Different Types of Gardening: Raised-Bed Gardening

This week we are moving beyond gardening in pots and containers and progressing onto gardening in raised-beds. A raised garden bed is a method of growing plants higher than the ground. Where soil is enclosed in freestanding box or frame built with wood, but cinder boxes and metal are options as well. They allow gardeners to place soil aboveground and plant their crops there. The advantages of raised-bed gardening are: control over soil quality, deep soil for roots, increased accessibility, easier to exclude pests, less weeds, less soil compaction/plant disturbance, tidy look, come in a variety of sizes and can be leveraged in a lot of different locations.

Recipe for DIY Raised Bed Soil Mix

Equal parts vermiculite, coconut coir or peat moss, and compost.

Vermiculite: Holds moisture in the soil so it’s consistently available for plants to use.

Coconut Coir:Coco coir is a byproduct of coconut processing. The fibrous husks of coconuts are ground or decomposed in order to produce a product that is very similar to peat moss in weight and texture, but darker in color.

Peat Moss: Peat moss is a traditional soilless growing medium that comes from peat bogs. Peat bogs are swamps or marshes that are filled with a decomposed sphagnum moss. Most peat moss in the United States comes from Canada. The final product is a light, fluffy, soil-like material.

• Both Peat Moss & Coconut Coir have their environmental concerns, its important to do your research to ensure ethically sourced components are used if desired.

Compost: Adds nutrients & biology that are important to a plant’s overall health, prevents soil erosion, and helps retain water. Compost can also help reduce the number of pest and disease issues.

To learn more about composting from Soil Organic Solutions, visit our YouTube channel to check out our composting videos!

Remember, Healthy Soil=Happy Plants!