Planting & Mulching a Raised Bed Garden

Planting

Be sure the plants you select are adapted to the climate and water in your area, and that their mature size will be appropriate for their location in the landscape. Perennials and permanent trees and shrubs should be located at the rear of the bed where they will be least disturbed. Plant annuals along the edge where they will be within easy reach when it is time to replace them.

Mulching may be the single most important finishing touch to your raised bed garden. Mulch keeps plant roots cool in summer, reduces water evaporation from the soil, controls erosion by softening the impact of rain and slowing runoff so it can soak into the soil, and suppresses the growth of weeds. Mulches also add to the attractiveness of the landscape.

Mulching

After all the plants are in the bed, apply a 3- to 4-inch-deep layer of mulch, tapering it to the bases of the plants. To determine how much mulch you need, multiply the length of the bed by the width and by the depth of mulch you want. Divide this total by 12 and then again by 27 to obtain the amount of mulch in cubic yards.

Bark and pine needles are both popular mulches. Many vegetable gardeners use shredded newspaper or strips of black plastic anchored down the rows. Seeds or seedlings are planted in holes cut in the plastic. Newspaper and exposed plastic are not particularly attractive and should probably be reserved for private areas of the garden.