Question: My vegetable garden is located on the lowest part of my property because that's the area that receives the most sun. Unfortunately, it's also the last place to drain in the spring and after rain. Sometimes it affects the performance of my crops. I could have drainage tiles installed, but am looking for a less expensive option.

Answer: Depending on how you build them, it can be a lot cheaper to create raised beds. When you raise the soil it will drain more quickly and create better conditions for root growth. You can build up the volume of soil for the beds with compost and organic matter. The deeper your beds, the better, but they should be at least a foot high for most crops to truly thrive. Frame beds with timbers or other building material or simply heap the soil in a mounded row.