How to Maintain Raised Bed Gardens

A lot of fun and unbeatable homegrown veggies await anyone with sunny lawn space who dare to start a garden. Raised garden beds look tidy, increase drainage, direct traffic and produce abundant veggies.  A hassle-free raised bed is one that prevents weeds or lawn grass from invading.

Prevent weeds in new raised beds with a cover crop

A discouraging scenario for the newly installed bed arises when grass or weeds like dandelions push up from below the new soil.  Some recommend a weed barrier, but this is a needless use of plastic in my opinion, and plants will be happier in the long run if their roots can explore beyond the depth of the added soil.  It also allows a slightly shallower bed, the depth of a 2 x 6 board is adequate and saves on wood and soil. 

Turning over the underlying soil can help, but it’s a lot of work.  Instead, a bit of patience and a vigorous cover crop can smother the old lawn.  

Planting oats in spring rewards with a weed-free fall crop

Oats can be cheaply acquired from any feed store (look for “Whole Oats”), they will fill in thickly during May and June, no other plant will have a chance. 

Then in July when they first show their loose tassel-like flowers, press the stalks over to lay them flat. When they are mashed against the ground, crimp the oat stalks gently by making small stabs with a flat shovel – don’t bother actually turning the soil over, it’s unnecessary since the soil is already well structured with plenty of passages for new roots.  

Then lay a thick layer of partially rotted straw, grass clippings, or leaf mold to hold down the oats and further block weeds.  Now open small holes in this mulch layer and plant some cabbage, kale, or broccoli for an October/November harvest.

Mulch the Margins

A common headache is caused by grass that creeps under the sides of a raised bed.  A very tall raised planter can prevent this, but unless you can’t bend over comfortably, there is little reason to import such a large volume of soil. 

Instead, spread wood chips very thickly across all the paths surrounding the raised bed. 

The finer the wood chips, the better the weed suppression.  To combat lawn grass, ask the compost farm for “arbor fines” this material is the material that is screened out after wood passes through the grinder for the first time on its way to becoming mulch.  It contains all the finest wood particles and some soil from tree roots that are recycled into mulch.  Consider sprinkling GIANT STOPHARIA mushroom spawn among the wood chips 

An ounce of prevention …

Cover crops and thick mulch on paths make it possible to install raised beds much more easily, without all the digging that many online how-to’s suggest.  By keeping the established lawn plants at bay both within and immediately surrounding new beds, a new garden can be no sweat.  Replenish the wood chips every year or two and take a few minutes pulling weeds when you cut fresh herbs and the garden