Content
- Drainage in the raised bed prevents waterlogging
- Why a water drain in the raised bed is so important
- Which materials are suitable for drainage?
- Apply drainage layer - That's how it's done
- Tips
A raised bed always needs a drainage
Drainage in the raised bed prevents waterlogging
Of course, you can only fill a raised bed with soil, but this only makes sense in very small or rather flat raised beds (such as the table beds). Instead, raised beds should get drainage whenever possible, so that excess pouring water or rainwater can run off.
Why a water drain in the raised bed is so important
Such a layer is particularly important when the raised bed is on a sealed surface such as on a concrete slab or on a paved courtyard. Excess water must be able to flow away unhindered, especially in winter, otherwise waterlogging will form. This in turn hinders the growth of plants and ensures that the roots rot and fungal infections spread. If a raised bed is only filled with soil, this makes the flow of water more difficult - the heavier the substrate, the more likely it is to compact. In addition, the garden soil usually does not consist of a thick layer of topsoil, here are only the first 40 centimeters of fertile soil, which often follows - depending on the soil composition - clay or sand layer.
Which materials are suitable for drainage?
There are several ways to create a drainage. In the classical stratification, which is used above all on loosely raised raised beds, roughly shredded branches and twigs as well as wood chips and bark mulch as the lowest layer ensure that no water accumulates in the bed. However, these materials rot very quickly, so that the contents can suddenly sag within a few weeks to months. To prevent this, you can instead on
To fall back on. Concrete slabs and paving stones, for example, are layered in such a way that gaps remain for draining the water. Layers of sand, grit or gravel are poured into the cavities. Even thick wooden stumps (oak, beech, larch or robinia are very good, for example) need a filling of the gaps.
Apply drainage layer - That's how it's done
If the raised bed is open at the bottom, you must close it with a fine-meshed wire (such as rabbit wire), so that no vermin can penetrate from below. Then pour the drainage layer, where fine-grained material such as sand, grit or gravel can be easily filled with buckets. Coarser material is filled with finer bulk material and compacted. Lay a drainage fleece over the drainage layer, this prevents the sludging of substrate particles into the interstices of the drainage.
Tips
Bottom-sealed raised beds must have drainage holes at the bottom of the walls or foundation. If you have a sloping terrace, you must set up the raised bed so that the water can flow away from the raised bed and not stop in front of the bed.