Because you can easily supply your own soil mix, raised beds enable you to improve the quality of the soil where it naturally has a high clay content. The raised bed can also give you a head start on planting because its soil warms earlier than ground soil. You can work in wetter weather without getting your feet muddy or compacting the garden soil, and you do less bending as you tend your plants and pick your vegetables. The beds should be no broader than you can reach, but they can extend as far as your property lines allow. To prevent mud, top the paths between beds with gravel or build a preserved wood walkway.
Preserved wood is an excellent material to use when building raised beds.
Because of its long life and ability to resist termites and decay, pressure-treated wood is ideal for the garden. But research conducted by extension agents and academics in Texas found no cause for alarm. Nevertheless, Pine added, gardeners who are concerned may line the wood with heavy-duty plastic. A plastic drop cloth normally used for painting might be one inexpensive type of plastic liner. Once the walls have been constructed, you can fill the raised beds with soil and compost.