Your garden reflects your needs and your personality. If,
for example, you need to use a wheelchair to get from place to place, you can
still garden. Raised beds eliminate the need to stand or kneel while
gardening. 

The general rule of thumb for a raised bed is to build the raised
bed so that it is 36 inches wide on the top surface with a maximum width of
four feet. This way you will be able to reach the centre from any side. However,
I suggest that before you build the bed, measure you maximum reach while
sitting. Measure twice and jot it down. Make sure the bed matches your reach.
How long you make the bed depends upon how long you want it to be.

There are other advantages to raised bed gardening. Drainage is one. Good
drainage is essential to keep roots and seeds from rotting. Also a raised bed
tends to warm up faster so you can get an earlier start to the gardening
season.

If you have a clay soil or other problematic soil type then raised beds
allow you to garden without spending countless hours amending your soil. Visit
you local plant nursery and talk with the experts about the proper soil for
your garden. The choice will depend upon what you wish to grow.

If you have limited time and/or space then a tabletop garden may be the
answer. Make sure that you can comfortably put a chair or wheelchair under the
table. Many plants will grow well in containers just make sure to consider the
container height when making you choice.

The container does raise the actual
working height of your garden. Whatever you require, it is possible to design
and build a garden that meets your needs and dreams.