Raised bed gardening is a wonderful way to maximize your yield. Whether you have a big backyard or a small balcony to grow in, raised garden beds are highly effective tools you’d want by your side.

There are many benefits to using garden beds, such as:

• Provides better drainage
• Prevents soil compaction
• Keeps the pests and critters out
• Warms up quicker
• Adds beauty to your garden
• Promotes expansive and diverse growing

It’s easy to buy or make raised beds. However, it’s also easy to commit mistakes with them. Below are the most common gardening mistakes with raise garden beds — and how to correct them.

1. Choosing a Bad Spot

Contrary to popular belief, planters and garden beds can’t just be placed anywhere. Some gardeners often commit the mistake of placing them poorly, which leads to a disappointing harvest. Plus, once they are positioned, it’s close to impossible to relocate them.

Raised beds are incredibly versatile. However, choosing the wrong spot for them are almost irreversible mistakes. So, ensure that its location paves way for at least six hours of direct sunlight, and are sited close to a direct water source. This way, you’re welcomed with fruit and vegetable-bearing plants that develop tastier sugars and produce bigger yield.

2. Building Too Big

One of the main purposes of having raised beds is to have the least amount of soil stepping. When you choose to build your own bed garden bed, don’t commit the mistake of making them too wide.

Here’s a scenario: You’re going about your day in the garden, inspecting your plants, watering and pruning them as needed. Now, as they keep growing, you notice you can’t seem to reach the plants in the middle. The next thing you do is get in the bed and start stepping all over the place.

It’s best to invest on beds that are just the right size. It helps your plants to grow peacefully, and you can pay equal attention to every bit of them without disrupting their process.

3. Risking Poisonous Material

Many planters and garden beds you see in store are treated differently. Unfortunately, plenty still sell those that are pressure-treated or chemically-treated. When you use these kinds of beds, you’re risking health because chemicals used to treat the lumber often transfer to the harvest.

Go for naturally-treated and sustainably sourced wood. Find those that are rot-resistant, like our very own set of tiered planters and raised beds. Using the right materials allow you to grow not only diversely, but also safely.

4. Miscalculating Soil Mixture

You’ll often read how important nitrogen is to your soil when it comes to gardening. However, it’s not just about having it. It’s about knowing how much of it you need. Another mistake with raised beds is poor soil mixture. It’s not enough to pack it in with compost because it will affect your yield, and the overall health of your soil.

The key is to finding balance. A good mix of native soil and organic material like compost helps you get started better. Each is relative, depending on what you’re growing so take the time to unlock the right formula.

5. Putting Raised Beds Too Close to Each Other

Another mistake when it comes to garden beds and planters is placing them too closely to one another. Similar to building them too wide, putting them too tight-knit won’t allow space for you to attend to each beds properly.

The idea is for you to be able to put a wheelbarrow or at the very least, a stool you can sit on while you tend to your plants.

Keeping these gardening mistakes with raised beds in mind will make you a better gardener in numerous ways. Hopefully, you can get the hang of raise bed gardening in no time!