Be sure to test drive different soil mixes. I found that the classic “Mel’s mix” dried out WAAY to fast in the hot Ga sun”. More ‘manure’ less peat made the difference.
Also go DEEP with your soil, You’ll be surprised at how it settles, and deeper soil for me allows the greater density of planting to succeed. IMHO.
Maintain a good pest fence, capable of keeping out bunnies all the way down to chipmunks. Bury the fence in the soil or tightly staple the bottom edges cus those critters can be diggers.
My bride doesn’t want my total square footage to expand, so SQ Ft gardening has been key to my gardening output.
I like Mel’s first book/method better than his second version. The first version was to loosen 6 inches of soil and then mix 6 inches worth of compost into it to have enough for the 6 inch raised bed. You end up with 12 inches of well amended soil.
His second method was just 6 inches of compost on top of undisturbed soil. I can see that drying out quick.
The first method likely works better with heavy soil than with sandy soil for holding moisture but I think most of the US has heavy soil.
Great suggestions.
I have 9 empty cedar raised beds sitting out in my backyard ready for installation. They have been treated with wood preservative to keep their color. They have had 1/4” hardware cloth stapled to the bottoms to keep out voles and other root eaters. I am putting weed cloth and then 2” of 3/4” gravel all around the perimeter of my fenced backyard before arraying the 2 x 8’ beds around the perimeter on top of it. I am installing DigDefense under the fence in the areas between the beds to prevent rabbits and such from burrowing in to help themselves to my plants. And then I will order container soil from a local bulk soil place to plant my hostas, heucheras, ferns, dwarf shrubs, and native perennials in the raised beds. The beds are 16 1/2” deep. I will be excited when they are finally placed and filled so I can plant the plants I’ve been acquiring for them.