Try not to step on the growing beds once they have
been prepared. To do so compacts the soil and makes it
more di,cult for the plants to grow. If the bed must be
walked on, use the double-digging board. This will
displace your weight over a large area and minimize the
damage. Plants obtain much of their water and nutrients
through the contact of their root hairs with the soil. If
they do not develop an abundant supply of root hairs,
less water and fewer nutrients are taken in. The root
hairs are more numerous and vigorous in looser soil, so
keep your soil loose.
When weeding, note that the entire weed root usually
comes up out of loosened raised-bed soil. This is
welcome weeding, and if you get all the root, you will
not have to weed as often. Also, you do not need to
cultivate the soil of raised beds as much as other gardens.
The living mulch shade cover provided by mature plants
helps to keep the soil surface loose. If the soil compacts
between young plants before the mini-climate takes
effect, you should cultivate.
Note: For different types of ongoing soil cultivation practices to use after soil
preparation, refer to the “Cultivation” information sheet in the Gardening Techniques
information packet available from Bountiful Gardens at http://www.bountifulgardens.org.Once this beautifully alive bed is prepared, it should
be kept evenly moist until and after planting so the
microbiotic life and plants will stay alive. The bed