Raised bed gardening is incredibly popular among both beginning and professional growers. Conventional raised beds use layers of wood stacked to form a box, typically with ground cloth or a fabric layer at the bottom of the planter to improve drainage and prevent the growth of weeds.
Here at GeoPot Fabric Pots, we wanted to improve on the design of the traditional raised bed with our own planter. In 2010, we introduced the GeoPlanter, a solution for gardeners who want the benefits of raised beds without the potential downsides associated with wooden raised beds. Here are 8 reasons why fabric raised beds offer better results than conventional wooden raised beds.
Improved Aeration
The GeoPlanter offers superior aeration of the root-zone thanks to its breathable fabric design. This supports a healthy, thriving microbial population and discourages soil-borne pathogens from taking hold and potentially affecting your grow. The fabric also facilitates air root pruning, which occurs when the roots near the edge of the fabric come into contact with oxygen and create many more fibrous feeder roots. The presence of more roots means increased nutrient and water uptake, resulting in improved plant health and yields.
Superior Drainage
Good drainage is key to maintaining an ideal level of soil moisture to support microbial populations and prevents overwatering. Wooden raised beds will only drain from the bottom, resulting in a growing media that is more prone to root-zone issues and degradation of the wooden frame. Fabric Raised Beds offer improved drainage without the need for excessive amendment or additional drainage layers. The porous fabric naturally allows water to drain from the media once it reaches its water-holding capacity.
No Risk of Wood Rot
Wood is more susceptible to mold, rot, and pest infestation than a fabric stock like those used in the GeoPlanter. If not properly treated with a chemical-based sealant or polymer coating, wood can also quickly degrade under typical environmental conditions and reduce the longevity of your planter boxes. The GeoPlanter uses PVC piping for the framework, a UV-stabilized Polypropylene fabric for the body, and double-bonded polyester thread to support your grow for years to come even in the most demanding of growing conditions.
Built-in Trellising
Items like the Sungrower Trellis Kit allow you to convert your raised bed into a fully functional trellis-supported system. Trellising is a great way to improve yields and bolster plant structure to prevent breaking or deformed branches while evening out the distribution of your canopy.
Lightweight, Durable Construction
Fabric Raised Beds are considerably lighter than conventional wooden raised beds, and last much longer! When assembled, a GeoPlanter 4x4 Fabric Raised Bed weighs less than 10 pounds! But don’t let the lightweight design fool you, GeoPlanter Fabric Raised Beds are built tough to last for years, especially with proper care and cleaning.
Ease of Assembly
Fabric Raised Beds like the GeoPlanter can be easily assembled in a few minutes with no tools required. This makes setup a project that can be done by all, including kids, and is a great way to get them to help out in the garden. Check out this video with quick and easy instructions on assembling your GeoPlanter.
Portability
Even when full, most GeoPlanter products can be easily moved due to their lightweight yet durable design. For greenhouses, the 4x4 foot GeoPlanter is the ideal fabric raised bed for pallets – simply place each planter on a pallet and wheel them around with a pallet jack, or create a frame with castor wheels to move your planters around with ease on any surface.
Lower Cost
Fabric Raised Beds also save the aspiring raised bed gardener time and money in their setup process. Wooden raised beds have costs that can add up quickly and require much more labor to construct. GeoPlanter Fabric Raised Beds come with all parts pre-measured and ready to go out of the box, making them ideal for getting your raised bed garden going as quickly as possible!
Check out the GeoPlanter in a variety of sizes.
