Are raised beds really the best choice?

Raised beds seem to be all the rage among new gardeners these days. People seem to love the way they look, and love the results that they get with their raised beds. But here's the thing — you don't need raised beds to have a great garden, and that’s a good thing because the price of lumber these days is insane.

If your goal is to have a highly productive garden at a low cost, you can totally opt out of this fad and still have a garden that is the envy of your neighborhood!

If you are considering putting a garden in, do not fall into the trap of thinking that raised beds are the only path to success. None of my beds are higher than six inches above grade. In fact, the majority are less than that, and they all bear excellent yields every year.

There is something very appealing about the aesthetic that raised beds bring to a garden.