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When I first started my garden, I had a total blank slate in my yard. All that had been grown there in recent years was grass for pasture. It was mid-summer, and so I didn’t have a ton of time to get some quick-growing crops in the ground before the frosts came.

While my seeds were germinating in modules, I quickly put together some raised beds on top of the grass and filled each one with freshly purchased compost.

For my first gardening season, it went pretty well. I learned a lot and started to better understand my soil, local climate, and made plans on how to adapt in the following year.

Of course, I also wanted to expand my garden, so I put in some additional beds.

This time, though, I decided to go with in-ground beds.

Now, my growing area is around 80% in-ground beds, and 20% raised beds. I’d love to share some of the unique challenges and surprises I have encountered with this setup.

Since I have experience with both raised bed and in-ground gardening, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about each method.

In that way, if you’re considering whether to start a new garden or expand an existing one, you can understand the advantages and disadvantages of both.

I’ll guide you through the decision based on your specific goals, resources, and environment. In the end, you’ll be well-informed and able to make a decision for how to move forward.

Read on to find a deeper comparison between raised beds and in-ground garden rows.

Raised Beds: Benefits

No-Till

It’s a lot easier to put a raised bed on top of soil and avoid tilling all together. This helps keep the soil microbiome healthy.

Studies show that no-till practices significantly enhance biodiversity and carbon storage in the soil, helping with climate change mitigation efforts. Learn more about the benefits and research behind no-till gardening.

I was able to start gardening very quickly by installing raised beds above grass. It would have taken me extra time to prepare my clay soil in a no-till fashion with broadforking in order to grow vegetables effectively. This quick setup allowed me to shift from the planning and dreaming stage into the planting stage.

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Soil Control

Raised beds allow for complete control over the soil quality. This was very attractive to me, as I have very heavy clay soil that was compacted from horses. With fresh compost and continuously adding organic matter, I am able to keep these raised beds thriving.

You also provide a bit of headspace between your growing garden and the ground, which is helpful if you’re not sure what has been on your land in the past.

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Less soil and nutrient run-off:

If the raised bed is constructed well, all of the soil will remain inside of the container, regardless of rainfall and wind. That also means that nutrients - whether from fertilizers or organic matter - will stay in place, too.

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Accessibility:

Raised beds are easier on the back and knees, so gardening in this format is more accessible. This is particularly beneficial for those who may have physical limitations.

If the raised beds are tall enough, you can garden from a wheelchair or standing up.

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Great for Smaller Spaces:

Raised beds are great for containing a garden in an urban or suburban backyard, where space is limited. If you rent, your landlord might be happier if you garden in a raised bed instead of digging in the soil. This setup is also ideal if you want to integrate permaculture designs into your garden to optimize both space and resources.

Some raised beds, like this one, are elevated on legs and make it easy to garden on a patio or deck.

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Improved Drainage:

Elevated gardens typically offer better drainage, helping to prevent waterlogging, which can be essential for maintaining healthy soil structure.

I found this to be helpful for growing food throughout the extended rainy season that I have here in the PNW. A few of my in-ground beds got flooded in the winter before they were built up with enough organic matter.

If you have had issues with root rot in the past, raised beds can help alleviate this problem.

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Extended Growing Season:

The soil in raised beds warms up faster in the spring, allowing for an earlier start to the growing season.

I notice that anything that I have planted in both a raised bed and in-ground always produces first in the raised bed. For early crops like peas, salads, broccoli, and kale, this helps me to start eating from my garden earlier in the year.

If you live in an area where the ground is often frozen in April or even into May, raised beds might be essential for the productivity of your crops.

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Pest Management:

They can be easier to manage when it comes to pests, as barriers can be added, and the soil is less likely to contain harmful insects.

Strategic companion planting can further reduce pest pressures.

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Weed Management:

Larger barrier between grass and plants, many don’t make it out from under the inches of soil. Harder for pathway weeds to make it into the raised beds, but watch out for the corners and edges. Easier weeding with fluffy soil.

Research shows that mulching can reduce weed emergency by up to xx%.

While I don’t use cardboard in my garden, if that’s a practice you employ you can always line the bottom of your raised bed with cardboard to smother the weeds more effectively.

Since I heat my house with wood, I use the large pieces of  bark that falls off the logs while splitting wood as a non-toxic biodegradable mat to smother any weeds.

Clear Border:

Less likely for humans to accidentally (or carelessly) walk through. My dogs rarely run through the raised beds but it takes a lot of training to get them not to run through the in-ground beds when they are not in peak production.

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Disadvantages of Raised Beds

Initial Cost:

Building raised beds can be more expensive initially due to the cost of materials like wood, hardware, soil, and soil amendments. However, it might be worth it if you estimate that it would take considerable time, effort, and money to make your native soil productive.

Depending on your situation, you might want to take a look at cost versus yield over time to help you get a better financial picture for your garden.

How to remedy this:

• Hugelkultur principles: Place logs, sticks, twigs, and leaves in the lower part of the raised bed. In this way, you’ll need less soil to top it up. This improves the long-term fertility of your bed as the organic matter decomposes.
• Free Manure: Source organic, herbicide-free manure from local farms. Many give it away if you come and pick it up. Let it compost + age for several months and do a test germination batch before adding it to your garden and growing in it.
• Buy in Bulk: Often times, buying bulk garden soil and having it delivered by a large truck will be less expensive compared to buying individual bags.
• Wood Alternatives: Lumber is expensive these days. You might have access to logs, fallen tree trunks, or bricks, which can make the frame of your raised bed.

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Soil Drying:

The improved drainage can be a double-edged sword. Raised beds can dry out faster and may require more frequent watering.

Solution:

• Mulch: I’ve found that a thick layer of straw mulch helps to retain moisture during my dry summers. This helps me save my limited supply of summer water.
• Drip Irrigation: Especially with a daily timer feature, you can program your system to water your raised beds regularly.

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Take some building skill:

If you're new to construction, start with pre-made kits or online tutorials that provide step-by-step guidance.

How to remedy this:

• Try these raised beds, which take no tools or hardware to assemble

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In-Ground Beds: Benefits

Natural Soil Ecosystem:

In-ground beds allow plants to benefit from the naturally occurring soil ecosystem, which can be enhanced using regenerative practices like cover cropping and mulching. This in turn helps to boost biodiversity.

Learn more about how the soil microbiome works and benefits from regenerative practices.

I’ve noticed a visible increase in beneficial insects, like ground beetles and ladybugs, as well as worms as I build up the health of the soil over time.

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Lower Cost:

Generally, starting in-ground beds is less expensive since there's no need for materials to build the structure.

Since my goal is to grow as much food as I can, the lower starting cost of in-ground beds allows me to expand my garden within my budget. While I do need to put in the work with practices like cover cropping, mulching, and chop and drop, I just factor that extra time into my planning.

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Water Retention:

In-ground beds can retain water more consistently and might require less irrigation compared to raised beds, especially in water-limited areas.

The natural capillary action in the soil helps maintain moisture levels.

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Native Soil Microbiome:

Since your plants will be interacting with your native soil, you benefit from all of the beneficial bacteria and fungi that are adapted to your local environment. Since these microbes help sequester carbon, you’ll know for certain that you’re maximizing the amount of carbon your garden soil can store.

Healthy soil microbiomes like this aids in disease suppression and plant immunity.

Just remember to work with no-till practices in order to improve the soil habitat.

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Soil Improvement:

When you’re tending to an in-ground garden, you’re directly enhancing the health of the soil. This is especially true if you’re working with organic, no-till and regenerative practices. This can help your local microbiome to thrive, which can spill over into benefiting your entire ecosystem.

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Disadvantages of In-Ground Beds

Soil Quality Variability:

If the existing soil is poor quality, it may require significant amendment to make it suitable for regenerative gardening.

You might want to do a soil test to get a better understanding of your soil’s nutrient profile. In my garden, I also tested for contaminants like lead and got a pH reading.

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Accessibility Challenges:

They can be harder to manage physically, particularly for those with mobility issues.

Solution:

• Try to get tools with long handles to minimize bending over

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Potential for Compaction:

In-ground beds may suffer from soil compaction, especially if the soil is heavy clay, which can hinder plant growth and soil health. This leads many people to till their in-ground gardens year after year, which releases carbon into the atmosphere and disturbs the soil microbiome.

Solution:

• Broadfork between crops
• Grow cover crops like daikon
• Constantly add organic matter to your raised beds

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Pest Challenges:

It can be more challenging to manage soil-borne pests and diseases.

With patience though, many of these pest issues fix themselves within the ecosystem. Rotating crops, interplanting for biodiversity, and inviting in hungry birds and other pest predators helps a lot.

Solution:

• Crop rotation
• Companion planting
• Organic solutions

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Soil is colder in spring:

This can delay planting times and affect early growth stages.

In my experience, mulch really helps to gradually warm up the soil while retaining that heat until the air temperature raises a bit. This can help protect young plants from surprise late frosts.

Solution:

• Warm up the soil with dark mulch like grass clippings or leaves
• Use a clear plastic tarp to elevate soil temperatures for a couple of sunny days before planting
• Use temporary row covers or cloches to create a warmer environment

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Weeds:

Easier to come in from pathways or from under garden soil

Solution:

• Regular mulching
• Cover crops can smother weeds over winter and into early spring
• A clear plastic tarp over the course of a few sunny days can help clear out weeds before planting time

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Cost-Benefit Analysis:

Raised Beds:

• Higher Initial Costs due to materials and possible labor, but potentially higher yields and reduced pest/disease losses.
• Ongoing Costs can be higher due to increased watering needs, but savings from higher productivity and better soil control can offset this.

In-Ground Beds:

• Lower Initial Costs but may require more initial labor for soil preparation.
• Ongoing Costs are generally lower due to less need for water and maintenance, making them cost-effective over time.
• Yield Improvements depend on soil quality and management practices but generally provide a consistent output.

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Raised Beds vs In-Ground: It’s up to your preferences and location

For a gardener aiming to start regeneratively, the choice between raised and in-ground beds largely depends on their circumstances:

• Raised Beds are typically better for those who have poor native soil, want more control over the growing environment, and require accessibility solutions.
• In-Ground Beds might be preferable for those with good existing soil, a desire to integrate fully with the local ecosystem, and limited budget constraints.

Ultimately, both approaches can be adapted to regenerative practices, with techniques like composting, polyculture planting, and minimal soil disturbance being applicable to either method. The key is to evaluate the garden's conditions and the gardener's personal needs to make the best choice.

I like to take note of which raised beds or in-ground rows have any issues, so that I can be sure to remedy any issues with measures like crop rotation, beneficial plantings, and other regenerative techniques.

Something to think about is the trend your climate is going in. How can your garden adapt to any changing conditions?

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