How to Prepare Raised Garden Beds for Planting

Raised garden beds provide many benefits for growing vegetables, flowers, herbs and other plants. The contained soil warms faster in spring, drains better, and allows you to control the soil quality.

But proper preparation is key to getting the most out of your raised beds each growing season. Follow these tips to get your raised garden beds ready for spring planting.

In this article, we’ll cover:

Spring maintenance for existing raised beds
Filling and layering new raised garden beds
Soil, amendments and fertilizers

When and what to plant

With the right prep work, your raised beds will yield healthy, productive plants all season long. Let’s get started!

Spring Raised Bed Maintenance Tips

For existing raised beds, start the growing season off right by:

Turning under or smothering any cover crops from the offseason to refresh the soil.
Checking beds for damage from winter weather like detached corners or bowed walls. Make any needed repairs before planting.
Pulling out invasive weed roots that may have encroached over winter.

Setting up supports for vining crops like pole beans, tomatoes and peas.
Dividing overgrown perennials and clearing old foliage.
Topping off any settled soil and raking beds smooth and level.

Adding 2-3 inches of fresh compost or manure and mixing thoroughly into the top 6 inches of soil.
Covering prepared beds with plastic sheeting or 4-6 inches of mulch until planting time.

Proper maintenance keeps raised beds productive year after year.

How to Fill and Layer New Raised Garden Beds

When installing new raised garden beds, proper filling and layering results in fertile, weed-free soil:

Step 1: Install landscape fabric along the bottom of the raised bed framing to block weeds from below. Overlap seams at least 6 inches.
Step 2: Fill the bottom third of the bed with inexpensive bulk topsoil. This raises the main growing layer above ground.

Step 3: Add a middle layer of high-quality potting mix or compost-enriched garden soil blend. Use at least 12-18 inches in depth.
Step 4: Top dress with 2-3 inches of compost, manure, or dry organic granular fertilizer as needed based on soil test results. Mix into top 4-6 inches.
Step 5: Water thoroughly to help soil settle. Then apply 3-4 inches of organic mulch like shredded bark on top.

Follow this layering approach to establish optimal growing conditions in new raised garden beds.

Choosing the Right Soil and Amendments

The soil is the foundation of a productive raised bed garden. Follow these tips:

Test soil pH yearly and add lime if below 6.2, or sulfur if above 7.5, to reach ideal pH around 6.5-6.8.

Mix in 1-2 inches of compost or well-rotted manure annually to replenish nutrients and organic matter.
Add a balanced organic granular fertilizer at planting time if needed based on soil test results.
Consider mycorrhizae fungi inoculant for boosted nutrient absorption.

For sitting beds, add peat moss to lighten overly compacted soil.

Quality potting mixes or compost-enriched soil blends give raised beds a fertility head start. But annual care is key to maintaining soil health.

When and What to Plant in Raised Beds

Here are some tips on planting timing and crop selection:

Wait until soil reaches 60°F before sowing seeds or transplanting. Some plants need warmer soil – around 70°F is ideal.
Cover beds with plastic or mulch early to help warm the soil. Peek under cover periodically to check soil temp.
Start cool-weather crops first like lettuce, kale, radishes, peas and broccoli.

Hold off on heat-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and basil until soil warms further.
Focus on just a couple main crops when first starting out rather than too many different vegetables.
Try quick-growing salad greens and radishes for early success. Then work up to tomatoes, beans and other favorites.

Patience pays off when it comes to spring planting. Wait for proper soil warmth before sowing seeds or transplanting.

Ready to Prep Your Raised Beds?

Preparing your raised garden beds each spring may take a little work up front, but saves time and prevents problems during the growing season.

Follow this spring maintenance checklist:

Make any needed repairs to raised beds
Refresh soil with compost and organic fertilizer
Remove invasive weeds and roots

Add supports for vining plants
Top up settled soil and smooth beds
Cover beds to warm soil for planting

Proper preparation results in raised beds loaded with loose, fertile soil, free of weeds and ready for your plants. Then you can look forward to harvesting bountiful flowers and vegetables from your thriving raised bed garden all season long!

5 Steps to Prepare Raised Beds For Spring Planting! 🌱🌿🌱 // Garden Answer

FAQ

What do I put on the bottom of a raised garden bed?

Tips for Lining the Bottom of Your Raised Garden Bed Adding a layer of absorbent materials like shredded newspaper and cardboard to your bed will help retain moisture in the soil. A good blend of compost and a layer of mulch on top of your bed will also help reduce the rate of evaporation.

How do you prep soil for raised beds?

Remove all rocks, old roots, and plant debris. Dig down a little further with the shovel (a few more inches) to just loosen up the soil. Mix the soil with organic matter such as compost. We recommend that the compost make up about 25% of your soil.

How do you prepare ground under raised garden beds?

Try the lasagna method: Fill the bottom of your garden boxes with a layer of leaves, grass clippings, straw, wood chips and other organic materials, with a layer of cardboard on top. Next, add your soil. This mixture will break down into rich compost over time.