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| image: eartheasy |
There are many people today that are creating their own gardens at home whether in their backyards, front yards, or even a small space inside their home. There are also co-op gardens available for those that may not have space to grow their own produce on their property.
If you are someone who may be considering starting your own raised bed garden, here are several mistakes to avoid.
1. When planning a raised bed garden, observe your property to see where the sun rises and where it sets. It is important to make sure that the placement of your beds are where they get plenty of sunshine. A garden that does not get full sun will not be successful. A vegetable garden needs at least six hours of full sun. When you have figured out where the sun shines the most, then you know that your beds should be placed in the area.
2. Make sure that if you place more than one bed that you space it out properly so that you have room to work around each one. Lack of space can be very uncomfortable and inconvenient. About two feet of space between each bed should give enough space for a person to work around it.
3. This one is very important! If you choose to make your garden bed out of wood, choose the right product. Cedar is the wood that is most recommended for raised beds. We did not choose wisely and paid the price later on. We had our first raised bed for three years and everything WAS wonderful. The plants did great, I had no problems with critters and the soil seemed fine. On the third year, in the spring, I started to notice all sorts of critters on my plants, I also noticed that the wood had been growing some kind of fungus, then yellow mushrooms began growing in the soil. I noticed that my plants were looking pretty bad, I identified it as some kind of blight. When I did my research, I found out that my soil was contaminated with this particular fungi and that it needed to be treated ASAP. So I had to get rid of all the plants in that bed, then place heavy plastic over the soil to treat it with heat. People, that is a nightmare, so please make sure to get the right materials in order to avoid problems.
4. Know what plants may be planted together and which not to plant together. A great example is if you have banana pepper plants, it is advised not to plant it with bell pepper plants. I know, who would have thought, but it is a reality. Certain plants do not do well together while others thrive when they have good companion plants. There are apps that may help you with learning what plants are okay to plant in the same bed.
5. Another thing about knowing what plants to plant together is to know the amount of water that each need as well as the sun. You do not want to plant vegetables or herbs that require a lot of water with a plant that needs very little. Make sure that you plant your crops with those that require the same amount of water and sun.
6. Know the height and width of your plant when it is mature. You do not want to plant something that may give shade to another crop that needs sun. So the placing of your crops on your bed is important. To avoid creating shade to your other plants, know where the sun shines in the early hours, and plant your larger plants behind the smaller plants so that they may all enjoy the sunshine.
7. Make sure that you create an environment that is friendly to pollinators and beneficial bugs. Nature has a way of making everything work together. Bees are great to pollinate, ladybugs are great for getting rid of aphids, wasps are also pollinators and get rid of other bug problems such as unwanted caterpillars or other pests. The birds in the area are also beneficial in controlling the pest population. Let's not forget lacewings, they are beneficial for your garden as well.
8. When placing your raised beds, make sure that you line it inside with a material that will prevent gophers or other digging critters from getting into your beds. We use chicken wire and things of that nature, then we line it with garden fabric to prevent weeds from growing through.
9. Do not water your crops overhead. Always use the drip method or water it yourself with a hose at the base, never on the leaves. Wetting the leaves brings pests and diseases.
10. Last, know your soil. Not all soils are equal. Make sure you use the proper soil for your raised beds. It is very good to use a mix with dry manure that will nurture your crops. You may find out more about soil online or your garden center. We also like to use a combo of vermicast.
Well, I hope that you found this helpful for your gardening adventure. I certainly wish I had known this before but trail an error is a learning experience. Thank you for stopping by and give the article a like. Happy Gardening friends.
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