Raised garden beds are a great way to grow vegetables, herbs, flowers and other plants. They allow you to control the soil quality and drainage and make gardening accessible without having to bend down. Birdie raised garden beds are a popular option made out of 100% recycled plastic, providing a long-lasting and low maintenance gardening solution. When getting started with a new Birdie raised bed, an important first step is filling it properly to create an ideal growing environment for your plants. There are a few key considerations when deciding how to fill your Birdie raised garden bed.
Should you fill the entire depth of the bed?
Birdie raised beds are available in different heights, such as 10 inches or 20 inches tall. A common question is whether you need to fill the entire depth of the raised bed with soil. Generally, it is recommended to fill the bed to within 2-3 inches of the top. This allows space for adding mulch on top of the soil and gives some leeway for settling. If you completely fill the bed to the brim with soil, it can end up overflowing and making a mess once the soil settles. Leaving a gap at the top allows room for the soil to settle while avoiding overflow.
What type of soil is best for filling raised beds?
The key to healthy, productive raised bed gardens starts with using the right soil. Here are some tips on the best soil mixes to use:
– Use a high-quality garden soil or potting mix as the base of the bed. This will provide nutrients and an ideal texture and pH for plants. Avoid using subsoil from the ground as it likely contains clay and poor drainage.
– Mix in compost, which increases nutrient content and helps retain moisture. Compost comprises up to one third of the total soil volume.
– You can further improve drainage by adding materials like perlite, vermiculite, coco coir or sand. About 10-20% of the total soil volume can be these amendments.
– Don’t use soil straight from the ground. While native soil is free, it likely won’t provide the proper structure, nutrients or drainage on its own. Be prepared to buy bags of high quality potting mix and compost.
– Test the soil pH and add lime if needed to reach the ideal range between 6.0-7.0. Most plants grow best within this pH range.
Layering materials for optimal drainage
In addition to having the right soil mix, ensuring adequate drainage in the raised bed is key. Excess moisture can cause root rot and other problems. Here are some tips for layering materials to improve drainage:
– Place a 2-3 inch layer of gravel, rocks or wood chips at the very bottom of the bed. This creates a drainage reservoir and prevents the soil from getting waterlogged.
– On top of the gravel, add a 2-3 inch layer of coarse sand or perlite. This further aids drainage while preventing the soil from filtering down into the rock layer.
– A thin layer of landscape fabric can be added next to filter the soil and stones. Make sure the fabric doesn’t impede drainage.
– Fill the remainder of the depth with the soil mix, leaving 2-3 inches at the top as previously mentioned.
Pre-moisten the soil before planting
Before putting plants in the raised bed, thoroughly moisten the soil mix. This helps compact the materials and reduce settling later on. Here’s how:
– Water the empty raised bed thoroughly until water drains from the bottom. Allow any excess water to completely drain out.
– Let the soil dry out for 1-2 days. The moisture activates beneficial microbes in the soil.
– Add more water and repeat this wetting and drying cycle 2-3 times before planting.
Moistening the soil now prevents the bed from shrinking away from the edges later as it settles. Thoroughly wet soil also provides ideal conditions for seeds and transplants to establish roots.
Add fertilizer and other amendments
In addition to water and compost, your raised bed soil will benefit from some additional amendments:
– Mix in a balanced organic granular fertilizer like 10-10-10 before planting. This provides nutrients to feed plants for 6-8 weeks after planting. Follow packaging instructions for amounts.
– Consider adding worm castings, which provide an array of micronutrients and microbial activity. Mix in 10-20% by volume.
– Use a complete organic fertilizer, such as granulated chicken manure, blood meal, fish meal and kelp meal. This offers a slow-release nutrition source.
– Garden lime or wood ash can be worked into the soil to raise pH as needed. Test soil first to determine actual pH.
– After planting, mulch the bed with 2-3 inches of organic matter like shredded leaves, grass clippings or wood chips. This retains moisture and suppresses weeds. Replenish as needed.
Don’t walk on the raised bed soil
Avoid walking on the raised bed after filling it with soil. This will compact the soil, damage soil structure and inhibit root growth and drainage. Here are some tips for avoiding compaction:
– When filling the bed, work from the sides by reaching in rather than stepping into the bed.
– Use boards, planks or kneeling pads placed on the soil to disperse weight if access to the center is needed.
– Install trellises and cages from the sides or ends of the bed where possible.
– Weed, plant and harvest from the sides and ends. Consider surrounding larger beds with gravel or mulch walkways.
– Water with a hose or watering can rather than overhead sprinklers that compress soil.
– Loosen and turn over compacted soil at the end of each growing season.
Additional steps for filling a stacked raised bed
For a taller raised bed made by stacking two or more Birdie frames on top of each other, take these extra steps:
– Make sure the stacked frames are securely attached together with provided hardware.
– Fill each segment of the bed individually as described above.
– Incorporate vertical gardening by using the interior walls to trellis climbing plants. Install brackets and cages if needed.
– Consider including vertical layers of different soil mixes, like potting soil up top and native soil below.
– Make sure drainage holes align between stacked bed segments so water can drain freely.
– Provide extra reinforcement against wind, such as by staking corners.
Maintenance after filling the raised bed
Filling your Birdie raised garden bed properly is an important first step. Ongoing maintenance is also key to creating ideal growing conditions:
– Replenish compost and fertilizer each year. Organic matter breaks down over time.
– Test pH annually and adjust if needed by adding lime or sulfur.
– Loosen the top few inches of soil in the spring and fall to prevent compaction.
– Weed regularly to prevent roots from taking over the bed. Apply new mulch after weeding.
– Watch for signs of drainage issues, like standing water or plants with dying lower leaves. Improve drainage as needed.
– Never let the soil completely dry out. Water when the top few inches become dry.
– Inspect for pest damage and treat organically at the first sign of an issue.
Conclusion
Filling and caring for a new Birdie raised garden bed involves getting the soil mix right, providing adequate drainage and preventing compaction. The key steps include filling the bed 2-3 inches from the top edge, incorporating high quality potting mix and compost, layering gravel and sand at the base and thoroughly pre-moistening the soil before planting. Remember to never walk directly on the raised bed soil and continue maintaining optimal growing conditions with mulch, fertilizer, weeding and mindful watering. Follow these tips and your Birdie raised bed will provide a productive, bountiful and low maintenance gardening experience for years to come. Let us know if you have any other questions – we’re happy to help you get the most out of your raised bed garden!
