| If you have plans for plants that need ample | | | | you've made your wall, just add the right amount of |
| drainage, it can be very frustrating to have a yard | | | | steer manure and dirt. You may have to adjust the |
| that doesn't drain. Some plants don't mind the extra | | | | ratio depending on how long it will be before you |
| moisture from being in an area with poor drainage. | | | | plant, to allow for deterioration. |
| They could even thrive and have fuller blooms. | | | | If you are planning your raised bed where you have |
| However, some plants are not so lucky, and will die a | | | | grass or sod, it will be a little more difficult. You need |
| gruesome death. Always check your plants before | | | | to draw out where you want the garden then cut |
| you buy and make sure of their drainage | | | | out the sod. This is a little trickier than it sounds, |
| requirements. | | | | because you need something with a very sharp |
| It's easy to do a quick test and see how much | | | | edge, a sod cutter works great and is fairly |
| water your soil will retain. First dig a hole about ten | | | | inexpensive to rent. Add a layer of straw to the |
| inches deep. Then fill it with water and let it sit for a | | | | ground once the sod is cut, so the grass will not |
| day until the water disappears. Now refill the hole. If | | | | grow back.Once the straw is added, then simply fill |
| this time the water doesn't disappear within ten | | | | with manure and soil. |
| hours, then your soil is retaining to much water. | | | | To plant your plants in the new area, just use the |
| Simply put, this means the water will stay around to | | | | same process you normally use to plant. One thing to |
| long after watering. Almost all plants will not survive | | | | make sure of is that the roots do not go into the |
| with this situation. | | | | original soil more than a few inches. One of the main |
| The easiest way for better drainage is to create a | | | | reasons you are making a raised bed garden is to |
| raised bed garden. To do this, make a border for a | | | | keep the roots out of soil that gets to saturated, |
| small bed, then add enough compost and soil to raise | | | | therefore having roots extending into the original soil |
| it about five inches above the rest of the yard. The | | | | undermines the raised bed theory. |
| difference this will make in your water drainage will | | | | Once you get your plants in the ground you will |
| amaze you. Typically you have two areas for your | | | | notice better root development almost immediately. |
| raised bed, either on grass or dirt. There is a slightly | | | | You also will not have evaporation, which will stop |
| different technique for each of these locations. | | | | the plants from decomposing. This provides the |
| If you want to start a raised bed garden in a dirt | | | | perfect environment for plants to grow and flourish. |
| area, it is fairly simple. Just get some material to | | | | So don't be scared to change your yards lay out, |
| retain the dirt you will be adding. The simplest thing I | | | | because the results are well worth it. |
| have found that works, is a few two by fours. After | | | | |