Detroit, Michigan, has proudly owned the moniker “The Motor City” for over 100 years. Thanks to local initiatives, it’s also known as a “Bee City,” with gardens supporting the bee population. Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada met with a local pollinator non-profit, Detroit Hives, to talk about their impact on the local bees before helping a couple fill their elevated garden bed.
Steps for Planting an Herb Garden in an Elevated Bed
Choose the Right Bed
Elevated garden beds offer a lot of benefits. Since they’re raised from the ground, they’re less susceptible to contamination. Also, the raised height makes them more comfortable on the gardener’s back.
Think Drainage
Before filling an elevated planter, it’s important to ensure it can drain well. Installing lightweight drainage rock under the soil, as well as drainage holes (and even collection piping, if possible), ensures that roots won’t sit in moist soil too long, which can cause poor growth, low fruit yield, and root rot.
Plant Selection
When planting an elevated garden, it’s important to choose the right plants. It’s a good idea to go with a mix of your dietary staples (typically basil, oregano, and other herbs) as well as some exciting new herbs you haven’t tried (lemongrass, for instance). Our garden bed consisted of Anaheim chilli, Elegance pink lavender, Sweet Romance lavender, bush basil, Blue Spice Basil, lettuce leaf basil, amethyst basil, lemongrass, and okra.
Make sure to add some pollinator attractors as well. Plants like zinnias, nasturtiums, and pentas are great options for drawing bees and butterflies into the herb garden.
Use Proper Soil
Raised beds are perfect for filling with high-quality, organic raised bed soil. This will ensure your food is safe to eat and that the plants are getting the proper nutrients and drains at the correct rate to keep plants healthy. Also, fill the container to an inch below the top. This allows the bed to drain rather than spill over if there’s heavy rain.
Position the Plants Wisely
When planting several herbs in an elevated garden, you should choose spots based on their height. Larger plants can go in the middle, as there is less concern about sunlight or reaching them for harvest. Smaller plants should be planted toward the sides of the bed so they’re sure to get plenty of sunlight.
Water and Compost
After everything is planted, make sure to give the garden bed a good drink of water and keep it from drying out. In the winter, clear out the bed, add compost on top, and mix it in in the springtime before planting again.
Resources
Jenn delves into the world of beekeeping with a Detroit-based nonprofit, Detroit Hives that manages multiple beehives across the city.
Elevated planter box and plants provided by Featherstone Garden.
Jenn recommends raised garden beds for edible gardens. A raised bed allows you to add high-quality soil tailored for specific plants. They also improve drainage which elevates the risk of root rot.
Plants used:
