Why you should have a Raised Garden Bed

by Colin D Price

Building a raised garden bed in your backyard can be particularly useful if you have poor, waterlogged soil and your plants are not growing well.

A raised bed has advantages over the ordinary bed because you are totally in control of the soil that you use and you are able to garden in a more comfortable position. The different soil conditions required for individual plants can be controlled much more effectively and can be varied from bed to bed; a pH soil test kit is a very useful tool to enable you to achieve the correct conditions for individual plants.

You can easily achieve loose, well draining soil as you won't be walking on it to compact it. Raised garden beds drain excess water much better than normal garden beds, great news for areas with heavy soils and excess rainfall. This will help your plants intake of air round the root system, a major plus for abundant, healthy plants.

You can tend your raised garden bed in a more comfortable position which will help guard against backaches which can sometimes deter you in your endeavors to supply the family with fresh quality produce. It is also more convenient for those with disabilities or who have to garden from a seated position. We consider raised gardens to be a great asset to any gardener.

There is a wide choice of materials and sizes to choose from when deciding on raised garden beds for your own use. The availability of space will determine the size of the beds and how many you have. You can buy kits, or you can quite easily build your own out of anything that will hold dirt such as lumber, plastic, bricks or rocks. Lumber is the most commonly used and probably the easiest to work with.

There are a few things to think about when planning the raised bed. Decide on a comfortable height for you and make sure you can tend your plants from any angle without the need to walk on the raised gardens, thus preventing the soil becoming compacted. Make sure it's situated in a position suitable for whatever you intend to grow, with regards to sunshine and light and there should be good access for tools and wheelbarrows. Raised gardens should be a minimum of 6 inches in height to help correct any drainage problems; also it would be wise to enclose the area to eliminate runoff and erosion of the soil.

Usually, when building raised gardens you have to buy soil in, just take the overall dimensions to your garden centre and they will work out what you need. If you know upfront what plants your raised gardens are going to be used for, they can advise and supply the appropriate soil mix. If you're only raising the beds up to about 15 inches we advise you to fill them up with one half organic matter (from your composter) and one half soil. You can greatly reduce your costs by making your own compost. Now if your going to be looking at raised gardens that are waist high, say three foot, it makes sense that you take a different course of action to get good results and to try and lower costs. In order to reduce the amount of soil needed to fill this large space you can half fill it with rocks or sand then top it off with a 50-50 mix of manure or compost and soil. Adjust the pH levels for the plants you wish to grow and this will give your raised garden the ultimate growing conditions.

Raised garden beds are a great deterrent for various pests such as slugs and snails and also keep pathway weeds at bay.

Create a Garden With Looks and Function

by Lynn Bulmer


A garden can be functional and attractive at the same time. With a bit of planning and forethought, those pretty flowers can sustain pollination, provide shelter for birds and small animals, and even help feed the family. There was a time when you grew flowers or you grew vegetables and the two never came together.

Here are some tips for multi-functional landscaping that is both eye catching and functional.

Give your veggies room to grow. They should have their own beds that aren't shaded or inhibited by other non-food crops.

Give your fences dual purpose. A fence makes a wonderful trellis for beans, roses, morning glories, clematis, and cherry tomatoes. It also provides a showcase for plants that would otherwise crawl along the ground such as strawberries, small gourds or cucumbers.

Make room for some fruit trees. They'll need a location that allows room to grow without shading other plants. Fruit trees also make a lovely focal point in the center of a garden.

Create low edging along a path with marigolds, lavender, winter savory, calendula, chives or other plants with edible flowers. Low growing herbs that are allowed to flower work equally well such as cat mint and oregano. Tall border plants growing along a fence line or defining borders around a garden look stunning with tall sunflowers, hollyhocks, lilacs or ornamental grasses.

Plant vegetables keeping color contrasts in mind. Red cabbage or pumpkins make colorful neighbors to fennel, parley or carrots.

Grow medicinary and culinary herbs and learn how to make use of them. Plant different varieties of basil, cilantro and parsley next to your tomatoes not just for looks, but for easy harvest. Enjoy sunny yellow chamomile, bright red bee balm and fragrant lemon balm for tasty sun tea made right in the garden. Plant Echinacea, lavender or sunflowers in large groups for a more dramatic effect.

Have a formal entrance to your garden with a trellis or herringbone brick walkway. Attractive climbers include Hops, Maypop, Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet Peas or Climbing Roses.

Grow your crops in rich black soil with lots of added compost. Your vegetables will be larger and more vibrant in color as will your flowering plants. Planting in rows also makes harvest and care much easier.

Maintain your garden by keeping it weeded and trimmed. Add a thick layer of mulch to keep your plants cool and damp in the summer heat and to deter weeds from poking through.

Limestone Products: For Your Home

by Damien Lee


Enhance the beauty and the look of your home by making use of Limestone products that can be used in different products. The limestone is made from sedimentary and mainly consists of mineral calcite. There are various different types of limestone that consists of different features which again depends upon its formation.

Various types if limestone products are popularly used for construction purpose and also to add finishing touch to various structure. For instance you can make use of limestone window sills for the windows at your home or office. It would make it look different and would add to its beauty. These window sills are available in different sizes and may be used according to your requirement.

The door surrounds and window surrounds made from limestone are also available to you and may be used for your home. To learn more about limestone products that may be used for your home or office you can contact Double L Concrete which has a collection of different types of limestone products and other building stones. The company can provide you with paving stones, precast concrete, fence panels, concrete driveways and other such useful products. They can also help you with services related to decking, fencing and similar services that may be used for refurnishing your house.

Double L concrete provides you with different types of Paving stones that can be used to pave your driveways, patios or other areas. They can be designed in different ways which would add to the beauty of your home exterior. They are one of known producers of precast concrete and granite products.

You can get concrete driveways or can also opt for decking for your home or garden. At the same time if you wish to set the boundaries of your garden then you can choose to opt for the different types of fence panels that are offered by Double L Concrete. To learn more about the different limestone products and building materials that are available with Double L Concrete you can contact them at their office in Dublin, Ireland or may visit their website at www.doublelconcrete.com.

It is on the oldest company that deals with these different construction materials, being more than 20 years old. At the same time, Double L concrete is quite well known for providing with the best quality products and services. They can help with the installation of the different products as well.