Level 1 Horticulture Learning Workbook - LearnWell - Free Printable

Let’s work through this step by step.

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Question 1a: Describe a ‘raised bed’.

A raised bed is a garden bed that is built above the ground level. It’s usually made with wooden planks, stones, or other materials to form a box-like structure filled with soil. You don’t walk on it — you stand beside it to plant and care for your plants.

Question 1b: Describe an ‘in-ground bed’.

An in-ground bed is a garden area where you dig directly into the natural soil of your yard. You prepare the soil there, plant your seeds or seedlings, and walk around or even on the edges as you work. It’s flat with the rest of your garden.

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Question 2: Complete the sentences using words from the lists.

We’ll go sentence by sentence.

Physical properties

Word list:
aeration, compacted, drainage, germination, growth, higher, nutrients, respiration, water, waterlogged

> The soil in a raised bed does not become a. compacted because people and pets cannot walk on it, so raised beds have good b. drainage and c. aeration. Plant roots can freely carry out d. respiration because air can move easily through the soil to enter the roots. In the uncompacted soil it is easy for plant roots to obtain oxygen, e. water, and f. nutrients, which leads to faster plant g. growth. With more air and less water in the pores, the soil in raised beds is unlikely to become h. waterlogged, which helps the soil in raised beds to remain at a i. higher temperature than in in-ground beds. This leads to increased rates of seed j. germination and plant growth.

✔ All blanks filled logically using context and word list.

Biological properties

Word list:
diseases, move, organic, pests, remove

> Soil conditions can be controlled more easily in a raised garden bed. By increasing the amount of compost in a raised bed, you increase the amount of a. organic matter. Because beds are separate, there is less chance of soil-borne b. diseases moving between beds. It also makes it easier to c. remove disease organisms from a specific bed and it is harder for d. pests such as slugs to e. move between beds.

✔ All blanks filled correctly based on context.

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Question 3: If you had a choice, would you prefer to grow plants such as cabbages and lettuce in a raised bed or in an in-ground bed? Give at least three reasons for your choice.

I’d choose a raised bed.

Reasons:

1. Better drainage – Cabbages and lettuce don’t like wet feet. Raised beds drain better, so roots won’t rot.
2. Warmer soil earlier in spring – Raised beds warm up faster, so you can plant sooner and get earlier harvests.
3. Less disease spread – Since each bed is separate, if one plant gets sick, it’s less likely to spread to others. Also, pests like slugs find it harder to jump between beds.

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Final Answer:

1. a. A raised bed is a garden bed built above ground level, often with borders, filled with soil, and not walked on.
b. An in-ground bed is planted directly into the natural soil of your yard, at ground level.

2. Physical properties:
a. compacted
b. drainage
c. aeration
d. respiration
e. water
f. nutrients
g. growth
h. waterlogged
i. higher
j. germination

Biological properties:
a. organic
b. diseases
c. remove
d. pests
e. move

3. I would choose a raised bed because:
- It drains better, preventing root rot.
- Soil warms up faster, allowing earlier planting.
- Diseases and pests are easier to control between separate beds.