Grow Your Best Garden Yet

Why Raised Beds Win

Raised beds give you total control over soil quality, improve drainage, reduce weed pressure, and let you start planting 2-3 weeks earlier because the soil warms faster in spring.

• Better drainage — no waterlogged roots even in heavy rain
• Fewer weeds — contained area, easy to mulch
• Warmer soil — plant earlier in spring
• No compaction — you never step on the growing area
• Accessibility — easier on your back, knees, and joints
• Pest control — add hardware cloth on the bottom to stop gophers

The Perfect Soil Mix

Use the classic “Mel’s Mix” formula for outstanding results:

• 1/3 high-quality compost (mix multiple sources)
• 1/3 peat moss or coconut coir
• 1/3 coarse vermiculite for drainage

For convenience, Miracle-Gro Raised Bed Soil is an excellent pre-mixed option. A 4×8×1ft bed needs about 32 cubic feet of mix.

What to Plant in Raised Beds

High-value crops that thrive in raised beds this spring:

• Tomatoes — 1 plant per 2 sq ft, always use cages or stakes
• Peppers — 1 per sq ft, great companion for tomatoes
• Lettuce — 4 per sq ft, harvest outer leaves for continuous picking
• Herbs — basil, cilantro, parsley along the edges
• Cucumbers — train vertically on a trellis to save space
• Bush beans — 9 per sq ft, fix nitrogen in the soil
• Radishes — 16 per sq ft, ready in 25 days, great interplant

Spring Lawn Care Timeline

Early spring is the single most important window for lawn health. Follow this schedule:

• Early March: Clean up debris, rake dead grass and thatch
• Mid-March: Soil test for pH. Apply lime if below 6.0, sulfur if above 7.0
• Late March: Apply pre-emergent herbicide before soil reaches 55°F consistently
• April: Begin mowing at 3-3.5 inches. Overseed bare and thin patches
• May: Apply slow-release fertilizer. Establish a consistent watering schedule

Core Aeration

If your lawn feels spongy underfoot or water puddles on the surface after rain, your soil is compacted. Core aeration in early spring (or fall) punches small plugs out of the soil, allowing water, air, and nutrients to reach grass roots. Aerate before overseeding for best results.

Overseeding Bare Spots

After aeration, spread seed over thin areas. Choose a grass blend suited to your zone and sun exposure. Keep newly seeded areas consistently moist (not soaked) for 2-3 weeks until germination. Mow only when new grass reaches 3+ inches.

Watering Best Practices

• Water early morning (before 10 AM) to reduce evaporation
• Apply 1 inch per week total (including rain)
• Deep, infrequent watering beats shallow daily watering
• Place a tuna can on the lawn to measure — when it is full, you have applied 1 inch