Pros and Cons of Raised Garden Beds:

Pros:

·        Less Compaction: With less possibility of people and animals straying off the path and squishing the plants the more likelihood you’ll have a healthy crop.

·        Longer Growing Season: Raised beds tend to warm up quicker in the spring allowing for a longer growing season.

·        Better Drainage: If the soils is prepared properly with good growing medium the raised bed will drain better than an inground garden.

·        Cheaper (in the long run): Although the up-front cost is more expensive, the application of water, fertilizer, soil medium and mulch is more concentrated and controlled, making it less expensive over the years.

·        Safer: People with bad backs and disabilities benefit greatly from raised beds. The higher the bed the less someone must bend over to tend to the garden. It can also provide access for those in a wheelchair if the planning of the garden allows large paths and turns for the wheelchairs.

·        Higher Plant Concentration: Because the raised beds allow for deeper root growth plants can be planted closer together. This allows a larger volume of crops in a more concentrated area.

Cons:

·        Cost: The upfront cost for raised beds is more expensive than an in-ground garden. Each bed costs about $100 in terms of materials. And then the cost of filling up the bed with soil can add up significantly.

·        Maintenance: Raised beds are more reliant on you to provide water and nutrients. Also pest such as gophers can dig under your bed if you do not add a barrier between the raised bed and the ground.