Definitely! You will want to drill holes into the bottom of your raised garden bed for drainage for the soil. In the event that you overwater the soil, the excess will let back out through the pre-drilled holes.
With that said, you will still want to place a rock larger than the holes down so soil does not come out with the water.
What Is a Raised Garden Bed?
A raised garden bed is an independent structure (not touching the ground) that is located in a sunny area and filled with soil or another growing medium.
Did you know? Most beds are open at the bottom to allow plant roots to access nutrients from below ground.
What Are the Advantages of Raised Gardens?
Below are some of the benefits of raised garden beds.
Improved Soil
A raised garden bed, just like an in-ground garden, is protected from foot traffic.
It’s also not subject to machine weight. This means that it doesn’t get compacted.
Also, you’re able to choose which soil to put in the raised garden bed.
This means you are able to customize the soil to have specific nutrients for optimal plant health.
Improved Drainage
If you reside in an area with poorly drained soils, raising your plants in a raised bed may be beneficial.
The soil drainage gets much better when the soils are raised.
The soil you use can also be mixed to your desired specification where you can still create an excellent fine loam soil in your original clay and sandy soils.
Better Yields
Another advantage of raised beds is that the soil will warm quicker than native soil.
Warmer soil means you can grow plants before the rest of the gardeners using native soil.
Additionally, the soil in raised beds has much better aeration and drainage.
The roots of the plant can spread further than a conventional garden.
Unlike conventional gardens, you can make better use of the space in raised beds because you do not have to leave room for pathways.
Simplified Weed & Pest Control
You can grow crops more densely when using a raised garden bed so weeds do not grow as rapidly as they do in traditional gardens.
The raised bed walls add a barrier against blowing seeds and rhizomes.
It is also easy to manage pests when using a raised bed.
For example, you can cover with nets to shield your crops from birds.
You can also use metal screens to protect against rodent infestations.
Furthermore, the relatively smaller raised beds make pest control even easier than it would be on a large traditional farm.
Easy Access
There are people who do not garden due to the continuous bending and squatting involved in working with plants.
Even if you are suffering from joint pain, you will find bending down and learning the process painful.
But raised beds are accessible by giving your joint a break from bending over. You can water them, pull weeds and you can even fertilize them – all of this while you are standing.
They are an easy approach for many people gardening, particularly those with joint issues.
Why Should You Drill Holes in the Bottom of Your Raised Garden Bed?
The following are the potential benefits of drilling holes in the bottom of your raised garden bed.
Better Drainage
Keep in mind that raised beds are heavy.
If the soil is too saturated, the garden can create too much weight on the frame.
Also, that same water will stagnate and threaten your plant roots.
This is why we recommend drilling into the bottom of your garden bed. Holes should be no smaller than 0.25 inches.
Great tip: Make sure your raised bed has a hole in each corner, and then add a 2” layer of gravel at the base of your raised garden bed to improve drainage.
Improved Ventilation
In addition to increasing drainage, the holes at the bottom of your raised garden bed improve ventilation as well.
When air can freely circulate around the soil, it will enable your plants to grow faster due to improved access to oxygen and other nutrients for the roots.
You can also improve ventilation any time you work the soil in a raised garden bed.
This process loosens the soil particles and by working the soil even just a little, it opens up air spaces inside the soil.
What are the Best Materials for Making Raised Garden Beds?
Here are the materials you can use to construct raised garden beds.
- Hardwood or softwood as long as it’s treated
- Corrugated metal
- Bricks, Stone and even concrete blocks
- Chopped Tree logs
- Wine barrels
- Straw bales
- Pallets and recyled wood
- We have even seen Glass raised beds!
Wrapping Up
If your space is limited, a raised garden bed will give you the areas to enjoy growing your favorite food.
Plus, it can be easier to work with than a typical farm. And, it can produce a good amount of yield.
But, you’ll need to drill holes at the bottom to facilitate drainage and aeration.
The holes are important to prevent the damage caused by overwatering plants including, root rot and stunted plant growth.