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Still split on raised beds vs row planting after 3 seasons in my Seattle yard
I started my backyard garden with traditional raised beds made from cedar planks, about 4x8 feet each. They looked clean and the soil stayed warm, but after two summers I realized the plants were fighting for water and the wood started rotting at the corners. Last spring I ripped half of them out and switched to direct row planting, just tilling strips into the ground and adding compost. The rows gave me way more space for things like carrots and beans, but my tomatoes got blight from sitting on damp soil. Now I am rebuilding three smaller raised beds for peppers and squash while keeping rows for root veggies. Which method gave you better results for drainage and pests, or do you mix both like I am trying to do?
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milaprice3mo ago
Oh man, I gotta disagree here... raised beds are the only way I've had luck keeping soil from turning into concrete after a Seattle rainy spell. Rows just let everything get muddy and compact.
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benc533mo ago
Yeah, you get it. Here in the PNW, that clay soil is no joke (it turns into straight up adobe after a good rain). Raised beds are a lifesaver, honestly, they let the dirt drain way better than fighting with the native stuff. I tried rows once and ended up with mud up to my ankles and plants that just sat there drowning. So yeah, total solidarity, you're not the only one who swears by them.
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