With a few simple landscaping ideas, you can transform your backyard into a vegetable garden that will be the envy of everyone on your block. You don’t have to be the gardening world’s guru in order to succeed with vegetable gardening. All it takes is a little know-how and willingness to follow through on the tips and suggestions you will find in this article. Vegetable gardens can be very beautiful, easy to maintain, and even fun to plant and to care for. Here are raised bed gardening ideas that will get you started on your new garden.
First, you have to decide whether you want to plant annuals, perennials, or vegetables that grow quickly. Annuals like beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers will require little maintenance throughout the year. Perennials like spinach and kale will stay green year-round and grow fast, even in poor soil. Choose the type of plants that best suit your climate and your lifestyle.
If you are interested in planting vegetables as part of your landscaping design, there are two great ideas to get you started. One way to enjoy the rich flavor of vegetables is to layer them in a raised bed. The vegetables will grow up from the base of your plants, and when they reach the top, they are ready for eating.
Another great way to enjoy planting vegetables is to plant them in a container. A raised bed garden in a container will require almost no upkeep, and it allows you to move the bed to different areas as the seasons pass. Containers come in all shapes and sizes, from plastic cubes to wooden decks. One of the nice things about planting vegetables in containers is that you can move them as often as you like. Just make sure they are well-drained and can support the weight of the containers themselves.
One of the best ideas for planting vegetables in a raised bed is to layer them. A raised bed garden of several plants planted in a bed is much more stable and weather resistant than one big row of plants. When you layer your vegetables, you are enabling each layer of plants to grow at its own natural time. This means that as the top layer of your vegetables matures, it can be removed and the bottom layer of seedlings can take its place. Layers also allow for more moisture to percolate through the bed as the layers are staggered along the bed’s edges.
Of course, the type of plant you choose depends entirely on your personal preference, but you should keep a few things in mind when choosing. An organic vegetable gardener will want to avoid non-organic fertilizers and weed killers. The same goes for a garden that includes dairy products or heavily processed foods. Raised beds are excellent for organic gardening because they help maintain a healthy balance in the soil.
Another thing to consider when creating a raised bed garden is the maintenance required. Like any other type of bedding, if your vegetables get too heavy they can actually damage the ground beneath them. To prevent this from happening, plan to place a low hanging flower vine at the base of each bed. These vines will help carry the weight of your vegetables and keep them above the ground. In addition to keeping the weight of the plant’s light, the vines will provide beautiful blooms throughout the year.
Of course, like anything else, the biggest factor in creating an appealing space is your imagination. There are a wide variety of raised bed landscaping ideas out there. Just remember that you don’t have to do it all yourself. A friend or neighbor can help if they are experienced with this type of gardening. If not, there are plenty of books and magazines dedicated to showing you how to create a beautiful, healthy space using this style of gardening. Whatever you decide, the beauty of a raised bed garden will be well worth the hard work.