I'm diving into gardening and planning to start my very first raised bed for next spring. I'm curious if there are benefits to getting everything set up this fall, or if it's just a waste of time. I figured that having it ready might allow it to settle over winter and let some worms and critters do their work in the soil. However, I'm a bit concerned about exposing my wooden bed to the harsh winter weather. What do you all think?
5 Answers
Setting your raised bed this fall is a fantastic idea! It’ll allow the soil to settle and let helpful worms and bugs start working for you. Sure, winter might take a toll on the wood, but it’s typically manageable. Just add some mulch on top to protect it, and by spring, your bed will be ready to thrive!
Setting up your bed now is a good call! While some might warn about nutrient loss, it’s probably not a big concern. You could enhance the soil with worm castings or whatever method you prefer while topping it off with fall leaves.
Absolutely get started now! While you're waiting for the compost for your bed, think about starting some winter crops indoors. Easy ones like green onions, garlic, or bok choy can be harvested before spring gardening kicks off.
Filling your bed with leaves, sticks, and grass clippings now is a smart move! It’ll create a base of semi-composted material by spring. Just remember that a foot of leaves only turns into about an inch of compost, so water the leaves down to help them compress and add more over time. Plus, if it snows, let the snow cover it; it’ll keep things insulated and moist. You might want to look into hugelkultur as well for filling strategies!
I just set up mine with a hugelkultur method and planted some garlic, kale, and spinach for practice before spring. I quickly realized I’d need some netting to keep those pesky squirrels away!