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10 Garden Bed Tricks All Pros Recommend
Preparing Garden Beds For Spring Planting

In this article, Jesse Frost walks you through the process of preparing beds for spring planting. A few important aspects to think about include the length of the bed as well as soil depth and path width.

Line your garden with a layer of organic mulch like grass clippings, straw, or hay. This will smother weeds and help keep moisture in the garden.

Easy to Assemble

Garden beds are a wonderful method of growing flowers and vegetables in poor soil. They can be constructed of different materials such as natural rot-resistant timber, stone, woven willow recycled plastic lumber and concrete. Some are designed into furniture that adds an aesthetic and practical touch to the home. The majority of kits come with everything you need to build the beds with pre-cut pieces for edges as well as bottoms and stands. The assembly is simple and requires only the use of a few hand tools.

It is recommended to begin the process by sketching your space and working out the number of beds you'll have to cultivate all the flowers and vegetables you want and how wide to make the paths between them. Plan the shape and location of the beds, taking into account sun exposure. Google Earth overhead photos can be used to determine the direction and intensity of the sun's light in your garden.

Before you begin assembling the beds, level the ground and clear the area. It is a good idea to cover the bed with mulch or compost, like straw, leaves grass clippings wood chips, that can be transformed into rich compost over time. This will help to suppress plants and keep the soil damp.

When building the beds, be sure to avoid using pressure-treated wood such as creosote or pentachlorophenol-treated lumber, as these chemicals may leach into and injure plant roots. If you do decide to use treated lumber, place an extremely thick liner of plastic in between it and the soil used to grow plants to prevent contact between them.

Before you add soil and covering the area with a thick layer of multiple layers of newspaper or hardware cloth if there is a lot of weeds and tall grass. This will also stop creatures that burrow, such as voles and moles and will be easy to remove after the weeds have been removed.

Durable


If you're looking to grow flowers and vegetables in your garden, a raised bed is a great alternative. They are easy-to-assemble and long-lasting, which means you can use them for many years to come. There are gardening ideas that are available however, wood is the most popular. However, galvanized metal is becoming more popular as well. So what is the best choice for you?

While it's possible to construct a raised garden bed using any of the materials available, some are better than others. For instance, beds built from repurposed materials such as old fence posts or railroad ties can be used however they're not as durable like galvanized or wood beds. garden ideas will also degrade more quickly in wet climates.

Recycled materials could contain harmful chemicals, like chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) which will leach out into the soil and into your food crops. Even repurposed stock tanks can be problematic, since they'll start to rust over time.

Galvanized steel, on other hand, is much easier to maintain than wood. It's also lighter than other materials, so it's much easier for one person to move them around the yard or to an allotment garden. Galvanized raised beds are also an excellent option for those who are planning to move into a new home because they can be removed.

Other options for durable garden beds include concrete, brick and stone. They are fairly inexpensive and add a nice touch to your landscape. Just make sure to use non-porous materials as they will ward off rot.

Plastic and resin are durable materials that can be used to construct raised garden beds. They're not as costly as wood, and won't rot or warp in extreme temperatures. They come in a range of colors that will complement your landscape, while others are natural colored. Some brands boast that they'll last maintenance-free for up to 15 years.

If you are looking to give your garden a more round look choose curved or circular flower beds. These designs can be particularly appealing when they are used in a garden with a slope.

Easy to Maintain

Many gardeners create raised beds to make gardening easier. This could mean removing the necessity to sit or kneel for long periods of time, or keeping garden soil from becoming too muddy following rain or strong winds. It is important to design the bed properly to accomplish the goal you want it to. The height of the bed and the plants you select will determine how much maintenance is required to maintain its appearance.

A low-maintenance garden should be filled with durable plants that will bloom every year. It's also a good idea to layer the plantings. Plants that are taller should be placed in the rear of the bed, while plants that are middle height or ground cover should be placed in the middle. This makes the bed appear more lush and full. The addition of evergreen plants will bring color to the winter.

If your raised garden is going to be used for growing vegetables, you'll want to raise it to accommodate the various needs of the vegetables' root depth. The ideal raised bed should be at a minimum of four feet wide. Any wider will be difficult to reach into without stepping onto the soil. When you're getting ready to harvest your veggies You'll need to consider how far you're able to stand away from the bed's edge.

Vegetable-gardening raised beds must be surrounded by a weed barrier. This will prevent the soil from leaking out after an intense rain and will aid in keeping weeds out. gardening ideas vegetables will also protect the soil from animal waste and other debris. If you're concerned about the liner becoming too hot, you can use breathable, biodegradable fabrics such as netting or jute instead of plastic.

Another method of reducing the amount of work a raised vegetable garden requires is to add a layer of mulch. A layer of organic material like compost, shredded leaves or commercial mulch in bags, will help keep the soil cool and help reduce the evaporation. Mulching can help keep weeds away.

Low-maintenance raised flower beds must include shrubs that require only minimal maintenance once they've established. Some great options include hollyhocks (Helianthus annuus), honeysuckle 'White Delight and sage (Salvia elegans). Be certain to select shrubs that can thrive in the conditions of light in your garden area. If you want a sunny border, go for flowering shrubs like Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile' as well as Hydrangeas such as 'Annabelle.' For areas that are shady, consider heuchera, Sarcococca hookeriana or mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Soft Caress'.

Great for Kids

Garden beds are great for children as they give them their own personal garden with vegetables and plants which they can care for with ease. In addition, gardening promotes physical activity in the sunshine and fresh air, which aids in overall health and cognitive performance. Gardening provides many opportunities for learning.

For instance, planting vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes and green beans is an excellent way to learn about nutrition. Then, kids can appreciate their hard work by eating the fruits and vegetables that they have planted and took care of.

Another fun way to encourage children to participate is to design an enthralling herb or vegetable garden. A pizza garden, for instance can include all the herbs required to make a delicious pizza. This can teach kids how cook using ingredients they've grown. It's also a great opportunity to talk about the importance of consume foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that help build the brain.

In addition to the nutritional lessons gardening is an excellent way to teach kids about the cycles of nature and the roles that water, sun and soil play in the growth of plants. It's also a wonderful way to learn about other food sources, and to gain an appreciation for the importance of not to waste any of the earth's resources.

Furthermore, children will love the chance to observe their own garden grow from a tiny seed to a fruiting crop. It's an excellent way to promote social interaction, as they will be working together in the garden. They'll also relish the excitement of awaiting to see whose plant will grow first.

To promote even more learning, consider a raised garden bed that is able to accommodate your kids' unique requirements. A raised garden bed of 2 to 3 feet wide will provide children with plenty of room to reach and tend their own plots of vegetables and flowers. This size is ideal for gardens where a lot of physical labor is required, such as pushing wheelbarrows or moving heavy soil.

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