There are countless variants of raised beds made of very different materials, in different sizes and shapes, with or without a floor… Since raised beds have become more and more popular, resourceful gardeners and specialist retailers have come up with a number of ideas so that such a bed is not only set up in natural gardens can be. For the balcony and terrace, for example, you should choose a raised bed that is closed at the bottom - otherwise it will flood the subsoil into which excess water cannot seep.

Raised beds without direct soil contact need very good drainage

Which is why a raised bed is usually always in contact with the ground

Conventional compost raised beds always have an open bottom and are therefore in contact with the ground for two main reasons:

  • Excess water can drain away. Waterlogging can be prevented.
  • Earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms migrate from the soil into the raised bed.
  • They are indispensable for the successful composting of the filling material.

In order for both to work, the subsoil should be prepared accordingly before setting up the bed and filling it.

Raised bed closed at the bottom for balconies and terraces

Open floors are not always possible: on the balcony, for example, you could quickly get in trouble with the landlord and the neighbors living below with such a bed. For this reason, only closed raised beds are possible in such cases, although there are many variants here as well. The table beds, for example, are practical, although strictly speaking they are not classic raised beds. Nevertheless, they offer a comfortable working height and plenty of planting space. “Raised beds” can also be built in no time at all from discarded fruit and wine crates. While you always have to keep an eye on the statics with balcony beds, you can also set up larger and heavier raised beds on the terrace and on other surfaces.

Drainage for closed raised beds

But whether on the balcony, terrace or anywhere else: Raised beds that are closed at the bottom absolutely need good drainage so that excess water can drain off and the vegetable patch does not turn into a swampy landscape. But how do you do it when the closed floor no longer offers a drainage option? Here you can get creative and ensure the water drainage in the following proven ways:

  • Drill the ground and attach drainage hoses.
  • Lead this to a collection container where you collect excess water.
  • This can e.g. B. continue to be used for casting.
  • Place more planters with holes in the raised bed box.
  • Old laundry baskets, for example, are suitable for this.
  • These are filled and planted.
  • The actual raised bed box serves as a water collection container.
  • Make sure that the planter is not directly in the water.

tips

Raised beds with a shallow planting trough (such as table beds) are not suitable for composting due to their shallow depth. They can also simply be filled with soil instead.

Category:

Vegetable garden