Raised garden beds have a number of benefits built into their design.

The first is easier access - by bringing the garden bed up off the ground you will save yourself the pain of constantly bending down to ground level for maintenance.

You can also strategically place them to maximise sunlight exposure.

Many inner-city dwellers only have a small courtyard and tall apartment complexes can sometimes limit the amount of sun's rays that reach the patio floor.

Take note of where the sun does shine and position raised garden beds accordingly.

Better drainage is also a key advantage due to the lack of clay - you will have more control over soil treatment as well by keeping it neatly contained inside one vessel.

Perhaps the best reason to have a raised garden bed is the flexibility is allows those without any quality dirt to speak of in their outdoor areas.

They can provide a luscious alternative to soil-based gardening, meaning that you won't have to sacrifice your love of beautiful plants and fresh herbs simply because your currently property does not have a garden.