raised bed gardens are growing in popularity these days due to the need for more space, improved drainage and speedier results. However, if you haven’t had experience maintaining raised garden beds before, this can be a bit of a daunting project. That’s why we rounded up some helpful tips for landscape design with raised beds that will help you to get your projects off the ground!
Introduction
The Begley family’s Raised Garden Bed are some of the prettiest around. They’re tidy, well-manicured, and recently cleaned – all thanks to a little TLC from their three children!
Most of us have trouble keeping our yards looking neat and orderly, let alone our vegetable gardens. But with just a bit of effort, anyone can cultivate healthy crops and beautiful flowers in their backyard.
What You’ll need:
– A garden hose
– A bucket or mop
– Sandpaper (optional)
– Pine pitch or equivalent substrate (optional)
– Compost (optional)
- Clear any debris from your garden beds using a garden hose. If necessary, use sandpaper to smooth out any bumps or ridges on the soil surface. Be careful not to damage plants while cleaning!
- If you decide to use a substrate like pine pitch, sprinkle it over the surface of the bed and work it into the dirt with your hands. Allow it to dry before planting anything.
- Plant whatever you like in your garden beds – tomatoes, potatoes, peas, beans – and enjoy the fruits and vegetables they produce!
Garden Bed Basics
If you have never grown a garden before, now is the time! All around the US, gardeners are getting creative with their plots and plants. Building raised beds is one great way to get started. Here are some basics on gardening in a raised bed:
-Choose the right foundation: A raised bed needs to be sturdy so it will not sink or move while you plant and water the garden. Choose a hard surface such as concrete, bricks, rocks, or tiled surfaces. If using soil, find a heavy enough grade that will support the weight of plants and cover.
-Get the right size: Raised Planter A good rule of thumb is to build your bed at least twice as wide as you are tall. This gives you plenty of growing room without having to bend over every time you want to grab something from the garden.
-Level it out: It’s important to Level your bed before beginning construction so that plants will grow evenly and produce healthy fruit and vegetables. Use a wheelbarrow, in-yard skimmer, or T-bar jacks (available at most home centres) to position materials until they are level. Wheelbarrows can be heavy and inaccurate when wet, so use caution when moving
Tools and Materials to Get Started
If you’re like many gardeners who dread the thought of lifting a finger in the garden, it’s time to get dirty. Getting started in gardening means sweaty work back-breaking labour that pays off in fresh produce. But there are plenty of tools and materials available to make your job easier. Here are five essential tools and materials for new gardeners: Developing a Lifelong Love of Travel from a Young Age
- Shovel: A good shovel is essential for moving dirt, planting and removing soil amendments. Choose one that’s comfortable to use, large enough for your needs and has a comfortable grip.
- Garden hoe: This handy tool can be used to smooth out the surface of the ground and remove weeds. Make sure the hoe is sharp, so it doesn’t damage the soil.
- Garden tiller: A tiller helps loosen the soil so you can plant seedlings without damaging delicate roots. Choose a tiller with long handles that you can easily control.
- Seed catalogues: Before you start buying seeds, take time to explore your local seed catalogue. This resource will help you choose varieties that are appropriate for your area and have the best chance of success.
- Garden soil: If possible, mix your
Prepare the Bed
Beginning your garden bed preparation by weeding and removing any debris is a great way to get a jump on germination and growth. Weeds will compete for water and nutrients and can rob your plants of the things they need to thrive. Once your bed has been cleared of weed, dirt or other debris, you’re ready to add soil. A mix of sand, compost, manure or peat moss is perfect for most soils in the Northeast, but you’ll want to customize the mixture to your soil type and climate. One teaspoon of actual nitrogen per inch is recommended for most gardens, but check with your local gardening centre or Cooperative Extension service for specific advice on nitrogen levels. Add enough soil until it reaches the top of the plants’ roots. If you have sparse or spindly plants, amend the soil with compost or wood chips instead of regular soil. For best results, work all the amendments into the soil before planting your vegetables.
Remember: a garden typically requires one year’s worth of organic matter (compost, manure or peat moss) before beginning to produce food crops
Get Clean
A garden typically requires one year’s worth of organic matter (compost, manure or peat moss
Considerations for Your Bay Area Garden
With all of the rain in the Bay Area recently, it is a great time to get your garden beds ready for fresh produce! Here are some considerations for your garden bed:
- Think about drainage. Make sure that your garden beds have good drainage so water doesn’t accumulate and cause rotting or fungus problems. A deep bed with furrows or grooves designed specifically for draining can help considerably. Check out eHow’s guide on building a rain barrel to learn more about rainwater harvesting.
- Create a soil mix. A good way to start preparing your garden bed is to create a soil mix that includes perlite, compost, and sand. This will help to improve moisture retention and aeration in the soil, which will help promote plant growth. You can learn more about creating a healthy soil mix in our gardening guide.
- Plant around Dahlia bulbs. Dahlia bulbs are excellent ornamental plants that can increase your yield from your gardening efforts! They need direct sunlight and warm temperatures to grow well, so planting them around the perimeter of your garden bed is a good idea.
- Plant flowers near fruit trees. Fruit tree diseases are worse when they come in contact with flowers or
Tips for Growing Vegetables
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about growing your own vegetables. After all, who has the time? Actually, growing your own vegetables is a great way to reduce your food costs and help improve your health. Here are five tips for getting started:
- Get organized. Before you even start planting, make sure you have a plan. The organization makes growing easier and more enjoyable. Get a soil test and plan the layout of your garden based on the results.
- Start small. It’s tempting to plant an entire acre of carrots or beets, but start small by growing a few types of vegetables together in close proximity to one another. This will help you get a sense of what crops work best in your garden and allow you to adjust your planting accordingly.
- Buy quality produce. Don’t cheap out on your veggies! While homegrown produce may cost a bit more upfront, it’s worth it in the long run because you’ll know exactly what’s going into your food and it will taste better too!
- Garden indoors during winter months. Gardening can be brutal on the hands.