I have a patch of zinnias and some milkweed, and cat mint and I was wondering if it would be better for pollinators if i left them over winter and cleared up in the spring? I know that zinnias are annuals, but maybe little critters can use their stems to stay warm. Any advice?

Years of warehouse work have been rough on my knees, and harvesting peppers and tomatoes from ground-level beds is getting harder. Last spring I built a few 12-inch cedar raised beds, thinking that would help. It did a little, but I still end up in an awkward squat whenever I need to reach the back.

I tried kneeling pads, but they keep sliding around on the gravel paths between the beds. Now I'm considering adding a sturdy rail along the edge for support, or rebuilding one bed at a more comfortable height. I'd rather modify what I already have than start everything from scratch.

Has anyone made similar changes to their raised beds? I'm especially interested in what height worked best, whether support rails were actually useful, and what materials held up outdoors in North Carolina weather.

Trying to make the garden easier to work in without spending a fortune rebuilding it.