Many times, as people age or suddenly need to live with a disability, they have to give up the things they have grown to love.  Gardening is a prime example of that since for some people, bending and stooping becomes impossible, meaning the joy they once found working in the garden ends.  However, there is a viable solution that is ideal for the elderly or individuals that have difficulty bending – a raised garden bed.

First, a raised garden is a garden that is literally built up off the ground so that gardening activities can still be enjoyed without the physical labor needed to care for a regular garden.  The key to creating a successful raised garden is the planning.  If the garden is well thought out so that you can easily plant, maintain, and harvest your plants and flowers, then you will be able to enjoy it far more than if you just put it together without much thought.

Although a raised garden can be any size you like, you want to decide on a size that you can manage best.  For starters, you want a sight that can be well drained and one where the vegetation will receive a minimum of six hours a day.  Additionally, the width of your raised garden should be where you can work from one side to another without much effort.

The one downfall to having a raised garden is that because they are raised and do not have a natural water runoff, they do need to be monitored a little closer regarding moisture content.  It is important that a raised garden be watered generously so that the soil does not dry out.  What happens is that if the soil were to become compacted, then you want to wait to prepare the bed until the soil has dried out enough so it can be pulverized into small chunks.  Then, a three-inch layer of organic material such as compost or manure would be spread over the soil along with some type of nitrogen source to help this material break down efficiently.

With a handheld rake and shovel, you will smooth the soil to about six inches and then add excavated soil to the top to about 12 inches.  The raised bed should then be finished off with bark or sawdust.  Now you are ready to start using plants of various sizes to create a unique appearance or if you like, you can plant your favorite vegetables.  Some people will use their raised garden so that half of it contains flowers and the other half vegetables.  Regardless, you should plant what you like and the same type of things you would put in a regular garden.

With a raised garden, you can focus on a smaller area, making the activity more manageable.  In addition, since you will be able to see the results of your labors, you will gain a newfound sense of accomplishment, one that you might have previously lost.  With greater mobility, you will have the ability to make independent decisions and the freedom to work in your garden whenever you please.