| Most plants need good drainage in order to strive | | | | Putting a raised bed on the grass is a pretty easy |
| longer and be healthier. While there are some plants | | | | process. Start with creating your borders, using a |
| that can strive in a garden that doesn't have good | | | | few pieces 2x4 pieces should work well. Now place |
| water drainage and some plants will actually grow | | | | enough soil into the wall you've created but before |
| more plush foliage this is more the exception than | | | | you do think about how long it'll be until your plant |
| the rule. Most plants will suffer greatly if they are in | | | | your first tree and adjust accordingly. |
| soil that doesn't have a good drainage system | | | | If you will be putting your raised bed over sod then |
| causing them to die due to over watering. Before | | | | the process will be a bit more complicated. On the |
| you buy any plant make sure you know how much | | | | outside edges of your garden you will have to cut |
| drainage it will need so you can plan your garden | | | | the sod and then turn it over. Although this sounds |
| properly. | | | | pretty simple sod can be tough and you will need a |
| Before building anything, check to see how well your | | | | sharp instrument to slice the sod. Put straw on top |
| yard drains. Checking your drainage is easy enough to | | | | of the sod once you flip it and you won't have to |
| do. First thing you should do is dig a hole that is | | | | worry about grass starting to grow. Add your soil on |
| about 10 inches in depth, filling it with water when | | | | top of the straw, the amount of soil you use should |
| you're done. The next day when the water is gone, | | | | be equal to what you would use regularly for |
| fill the hole up once more. If after you fill up the hole | | | | gardening. |
| the second time the water takes more than 10 hours | | | | Now you can plant your plants as you normally would |
| to be gone completely you will know that your soil's | | | | once the soil is down, which shouldn't be hard at all. |
| saturation point is low. What this means is that water | | | | Since you are planting in a raised bed however you |
| remains in the soil for long before it evaporates | | | | don't want to push your roots too deep into the |
| completely. This will not be a good thing for you | | | | original soil level. Keep in mind that having a raised bed |
| plants and you will need to take action. | | | | will ensure that the roots do not drown in the regular |
| Building a raised bed will be your solution to your | | | | soil that has drainage problems. If you push the roots |
| drainage process and it's quite easy to do as well. | | | | too far down then you will be essentially defeating |
| Choose the area where you want to build the raised | | | | the purpose. |
| bed. Create a border and put soil in the area you | | | | You should see a difference in your garden soon |
| have chosen. Add enough soil to the area so that it | | | | after you make the raised bed. Your plants will be |
| will be about 5 inches taller than the surrounding area. | | | | healthier and your soil will be better maintained as |
| This small step will be like a miracle to your plants. | | | | well. It's really not a hard process to take on and |
| Decide however whether the raised bed will be on | | | | your garden will be reaping the benefits of your work |
| the grass or on the dirt as the process is not the | | | | as well. |
| same for both. | | | | |