building raised beds. Raised beds have soil a few inches or more higher than the surrounding area, which provides extra rooting depth, and helps the soil drain and warm up in the spring. They’re typically 3 to 4 feet wide, with mulched paths in between, so you walk on the paths and don’t compact the soil in planting areas. Raised bed sides can be made with reused lumber, broken concrete or concrete blocks, recycled plastic lum- ber, or any non-toxic material. (Don’t use treated wood.) You can also make raised beds without sides. Dig a few inches of soil out of.
