Dealing with soil compaction in raised beds

Soil compaction in raised beds occurs from foot traffic (stepping into the bed), heavy rain impact on bare soil, overhead watering pressure, and natural settling of organic matter. Compacted soil restricts root growth, reduces drainage and aeration, and limits water infiltration. Prevention is the best strategy: never step in the bed (if you must, use a kneeling board to distribute weight), always mulch exposed soil to absorb rain and sprinkler impact, maintain a width of 4 feet or less for reach access, and use the no-dig method. For existing compaction: use a broadfork (a wide, deep fork with long tines, $60-120 for a quality tool) to gently loosen soil without inverting it. Insert the broadfork every 6-8 inches across the bed, push tines in fully, and rock the handle back slightly to crack compacted layers. Follow with a 2-3 inch compost top-dressing. Do not rototill, as this destroys soil structure while appearing to solve the problem temporarily. Daikon radishes planted as a cover crop are a biological alternative: their large taproots (12-18 inches long) penetrate compacted layers and decompose over winter, leaving deep channels for subsequent crop roots and water infiltration.