Are Raised Garden Beds Environmentally Responsive or Not?

 

 

When you have an environmentally responsive product, it can respond to different environmental conditions. Depending on the condition, the product or design can adapt itself by changing its form, color, or shape. Essentially, an environmentally responsive design responds to changes in its surroundings and act accordingly. If you have DIY raised garden beds, the chances of them adapting to the changes of the environment are unlikely.

Although raised beds can be constructed out of almost any material, not all of those are recommended. For example, some people have even created beds out of old car tires, which contain benzene, hydrocarbons, and other problematic substances hazardous to human health. In addition, wooden beds made from thin wood can easily rot or bow outwards. Treated or painted wood salvaged from furniture or construction can contain lead and other toxic heavy metals that can migrate to your crops. Many low budget DIY tips recommend that you repurpose existing wood lying around, but that is not advisable unless you know for certain that it is safe. 

Even if your bed is safe to grow plants in, they may not be environmentally responsive. In general, most of these beds tend to negatively react to the environment. For example, when the temperature is high, the raised bed tends to heat up, making everything inside the container or box become hot as well. Similarly, when the temperature drops during the colder season, the box loses heat, causing everything inside the container to become cold. 

If you live in an area with a rainy season, then the raised beds can fill with water and cause harm to the plants. Garden beds are subject to constant moisture, pests, and adverse weather conditions. Because they are not environmentally responsive, most raised garden beds suffer from the ill effects of outdoor elements. 

 

 

Raised Beds Are Environmentally Responsive

If you are seeking to buy an environmentally responsive raised garden bed, you should purchase them from reputed online platforms. Raised beds are deemed environmentally responsive if they can adapt their characteristics to the changing environment. You should consider purchasing environmentally responsive raised beds as they offer the best chance for plants to flourish and produce better yields. 

These metal beds are specifically designed to retain soil well and adapt to fluctuating weather conditions by responding positively to rain, heat, and the cold. When the temperature rises, they release heat, which lowers the temperature of the container. This means your plants are less likely to heat up and wither. Similarly, in the cold season, the containers capture the first rays of the sun and provide warmth to your raised beds during the cold morning, helping your plants grow better. They also drain out excess water collected during the rain. To receive these benefits, you should purchase raised beds of superior quality from a trusted place.

Vego Garden modular metal garden beds, which are made from galvanized steel with an Aluzinc coating, are durable and resistant, with a lifespan of over 20 years. Unlike other metal beds, our beds are 100% nontoxic and made from recycled materials. They are able to withstand severe and fluctuating weather conditions by effectively modulating the temperature within the metal bed. Vego Garden beds are a better option than wooden raised beds due to their eco-friendly composition and extreme corrosion resistance. 

Research shows that soil in galvanized steel stays at an optimal and more even temperature when compared with wooden, concrete, and dark plastic beds, which soak up summer sun during the day and stay hot into the night. If you seek to add both functionality and style to your garden, then you should choose Vego Garden beds, which are made from high quality hardware and add a clean, modern aesthetic to your garden. Even if they may be costlier upfront than wooden raised beds, they are a beneficial long-term investment that adds significant value to your garden. 

Tips to Create a Sustainable Garden

Once you have set up your garden bed, you can follow these tips to enhance the environmental sustainability of your garden and make your raised garden beds more environmentally friendly. 

• Conserve water: Water your garden late in the evening or early morning, when temperatures are cooler, to allow water to seep into the ground and prevent evaporation. When watering your plants, you should aim for the base, at the root level, and avoid spraying the leaves of your plants, which can damage them and promote the spread of disease. For more efficient watering, you can consider using a soaker hose or an irrigation drip system instead of a sprinkler, which tends to waste water and cause problems related to fungal diseases. 
• Attract pollinators: Pollinators such as bees and butterflies play a crucial part in the ecosystem, as many food crops depend on them. Bees are attracted to bright, colorful flowers that bloom throughout the year. For summer, catmint, thyme and lavender are good for attracting pollinators, while in spring, wallflowers and rosemary are suggested. Some flowers that attract butterflies include marigolds, sunflowers, yarrow, and globe thistle. Vego Kids Garden beds are a great, cost-efficient way for you to display your flowers and get kids involved with gardening. 
• Use the Hugelkultur method: Hugelkultur is the process of layering organic garden waste inside the raised garden bed to create a mound. Since buying high quality bags of soil can be costly, it is a cost efficient and eco-friendly way to create your own soil mixture and compost. The materials used include large rotting logs, sticks and other debris that are layered with grass clippings, coffee grounds, compost, and other organic matter. As the material decomposes, it creates a flourishing environment for beneficial fungi and microbes that mimics the natural landscape of a forest. There are many advantages to the Hugelkultur method, including soil quality improvement and water retention. For more information, read this article. 
• Grow your garden organically: Organic gardening refers to the growing of plants and vegetables in a natural way without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or other products that upset the natural balance of the ecosystem. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from fertilizers is now a major environmental issue. You can opt to use organic fertilizers for a more environmentally conscious choice. When planting your plants, you should choose untreated, non-GMO seeds and plants. Vegetable and annual seeds are easier to obtain than organic seeds for flower or perennial plants. Visit local plant nurseries or look for online retailers to purchase your organic seeds and plants. 
• Control pests in raised beds: Plant plants that attract beneficial insects in your raised garden beds, such as sunflowers, coriander, and goldenrod, to minimize the occurrence of pests in your garden. Companion plants also protect your crops by confusing insects that come to your garden. Onions baffle insects while leeks repel carrot flies. If you are experiencing pest problems, you can spray them with a jet of water from a hose or spring traps to catch them.