Elevate your gardening

Elevate

YOUR GARDENING

by MARK AND BEN CULLEN

Get off the ground with raised beds and green walls

Gardens are no longer limited to the ground. Everything still begins with good soil, of course, but recent trends have seen the act of gardening moving into raised beds and climbing up walls. Literally. Raised bed gardens and green walls are two popular trends in gardening – and for good reason.

On the practical front, the benefits are multifold. Raised beds warm up faster in the spring, which helps extend the gardening season. They are also tidier than traditional garden beds – they are easier to mulch between navigable pathways and less susceptible to weed pressure that can creep along at ground level. Building a raised bed also presents an opportunity to improve soil quality with something decent where your growing conditions are subpar – simply build your raised bed and backfill with a better-quality medium.

Green walls are practical for their ability to maximize space and light – especially in an urban setting where both are scarce. Indoor green walls have the added benefit of improving air quality and dampening noise in public and semi-public spaces. For the chef, an indoor green wall can provide immediate and year-round access to fresh herbs and compact vegetables.

The standout benefit to both elevated forms of gardening is accessibility – by building raised beds or installing a green wall, you are bringing the plants closer to you and everyone who benefits from your efforts. There is a reason why “enabling gardens” – those used in horticultural therapy to improve mental, physical and emotional health – feature raised beds so prominently. Being closer to plants is good for us, and happens to make for easier upkeep.

On the design side, raised beds and green walls offer unlimited creative potential. Raised beds can bring an architectural element to otherwise cluttered vegetable gardens, by using quality materials and employing some basic design geometry. Green walls “painted” with coloured foliage and varied plant textures can impart an impressive look.

The beauty of plants is all around us – so why not bring it up close by elevating your garden with a raised bed or green wall? You may be surprised how much it elevates your space!

Mark Cullen is a Member of the Order of Canada. He reaches more than two million Canadians with his gardening/environment messages every week. Ben Cullen is a professional gardener with a keen interest in food gardening and the environment. You can follow both Mark and Ben on Twitter (@MarkCullen4), Facebook (facebook.com/MarkCullenGardening) and Instagram (instagram.com/markcullengardening). Receive their free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com.