Preparing Garden Beds For Spring Planting

In this article Jesse Frost walks you through the steps to prepare beds for spring planting. Bed length, soil thickness and the width of the path are all important aspects to take into consideration.

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

Easy to Assemble

Garden beds allow people with poor soil to successfully grow their own vegetables and flowers. They can be made from various materials, such as natural rot-resistant timber stone, woven spruce composite plastic lumber and concrete. Some are even turned into furniture, adding an attractive and practical touch to your home's landscape. The majority of kits come with everything you need to construct the beds including pre-cut pieces to form edges, bottoms, and stands. The assembly process is easy and requires just the most basic tools.

It is best to begin the project by sketching your space and figuring out how many beds you have to cultivate all the vegetables and flowers you'd like, as well as how wide to make paths between them. Then, think about the shape of the beds and the locations they will be, taking into consideration sun exposure. If you can, take a Google Earth overhead snapshot to get a sense of the sun's direction and intensity in your garden.

Before you begin assembling the beds, clear the area and level the ground in which the bed will be erected. It is a good idea to put down mulch or compost, such as leaves, straw grass clippings wood chips that can be transformed into rich compost in time. This will help to suppress the weeds and keep the soil damp.

When building the beds, raised garden 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 use treated lumber, put a thick layer of plastic in between it and the soil used for growing plants to prevent direct contact between them.

If you're dealing with many tall grass or weeds in the area you'd like to place your garden beds, you should consider covering them with a thick layer of cardboard or several layers of newspapers or hardware cloth prior to putting in any soil. This will also stop creatures that burrow, such as voles and moles, and it is simple to get rid of after the weeds have been removed.

Durable

Raised beds are a great method to grow vegetables and flowers in your garden. They are easy to assemble and are also durable, so they will last for years to come. There are a myriad of types of garden beds that you can pick from but wood is the most well-known material. Galvanized metals are becoming more popular. So, which one is right for you?

While it is possible to build design a garden raised garden bed from any of the materials available but some are better than others. Beds made from repurposed material like old railroad ties or fence posts may work well, but they aren't as durable as beds constructed from wood or galvanized steel. In humid climates, they'll also begin to deteriorate more quickly.

Recycled materials could contain harmful chemicals, like chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) which will be released into the soil, and into your food crops. Even repurposed stock tanks could have a problem, as they'll start to rust over time.

Galvanized steel is less difficult to maintain compared to wood. It is also less heavy than other materials so it is easier to transport around the yard or around an allotment. Galvanized raised beds are also ideal for those who are planning to move into a new residence because they can be taken apart.

There are other options for durable materials for garden beds, such as brick, concrete and stone. They are relatively inexpensive and add a nice touch to your garden. Make sure to choose non-porous materials, as these will ward off the growth of rot.

Plastic and resin are two other highly durable materials for garden beds. They're not as expensive as wooden raised garden beds, and they won't rot or warp in extreme temperatures. Some come in a variety of colors that complement your landscape, while others are natural colored. Some brands claim that they don't require any maintenance for up to 15 years.

If you're looking for a unique look, try using round or curved flower beds to create a more round landscape. These designs can be particularly appealing when they are used in a garden that slopes.

Easy to maintain

Raised beds are frequently used by gardeners to help make gardening easier. This could mean removing the need to kneel or squat for long periods of time, and keeping the soil of the garden from becoming too muddy following heavy winds or rain. It is crucial to plan your bed correctly in order to accomplish the goal you want. The height of the bed and the plants you choose will determine the amount of maintenance it will require to stay looking good.

A low-maintenance bed of flowers should be filled with hardy plants which will return every year. It's an excellent idea to layer the plants. The taller plants should be positioned in the back, with the mid-height and ground cover plants lining the center. This makes the bed appear full and lush. Winter color can be added by adding evergreen plants.

If you intend to utilize your raised garden to grow vegetables, it is important to build it higher in order to accommodate the different requirements for the depth of root of vegetables. Ideally, the raised bed should be at least 4 feet wide. If it's wider, it's difficult to reach into without getting sucked into the soil. It is also important to consider how far you're able to stand from the edge of the bed when you're making preparations to harvest your vegetables.

The raised beds for vegetable gardening beginner tips should be covered with a hedge against weeds. This will keep soil from leaking out after heavy rains. It will also aid in keeping weeds under control. The plastic liner will protect the soil from animal feces and other debris. If you're worried about the plastic liner becoming too hot, you can use an breathable biodegradable material such as jute, netting or jute.

Another way to reduce 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 bagged commercial mulch, raised garden can aid in keeping the soil cool and help reduce loss of water. Mulching can keep weeds away.

Low-maintenance raised flower beds must include shrubs that require only minimal care once they are established. You can select from honeysuckle, hollyhocks "White Delight" and sage. Also, be sure to choose shrubs that are suitable for the light conditions of your garden area. For a border that is sunny choose flowering plants such as Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile' and hydrangeas such as "Annabelle.' For shady areas, you can try heuchera, Sarcococca hookeriana or mahonia eurybracteata subsp. Ganpinensis 'Soft Caress'.

Great for Kids

Garden beds are great for kids because they give them their own small garden with vegetables and plants that they can manage effortlessly. beginning gardening tips also promotes physical exercise in the sunshine and fresh air. This helps to improve overall health and cognitive function. Gardening provides many opportunities for learning.

Planting vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, and green beans is an excellent way to teach children about nutrition. Then kids can enjoy their hard work by eating the vegetables that they planted and took care of.

Another fun way to encourage kid involvement is by creating an imaginative vegetable or herb garden. For instance the pizza garden could include all the herbs needed to make delicious pizza. This can help kids to learn about cooking with ingredients that they grew themselves. It's also an excellent opportunity to talk about the importance of eating foods that provide brain-building vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

In addition to the nutritional benefits gardening is also ideal for teaching kids about the natural cycles and the role that sun, water and soil play in the development of plants. It's also a great opportunity to discover other food sources and understand why it's so important not to waste any of the earth's resources.

In addition, kids will love the chance to observe their own plant grow from tiny seeds to a fruiting crop. It's an excellent way to promote social interaction as they will be working together in the garden. They'll be excited about discovering which plant will sprout first.

Choose an elevated bed garden that meets the specific needs of your child to encourage learning. For instance, a garden grow bed that is 2 to 3 feet wide will give ample space for children to easily reach and tend to their own garden of flowers and vegetables. This size is ideal for gardens where lots of physical work is required, like driving wheelbarrows or moving heavy soil.