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Once you’ve observed the garden area, plan before planting. Planning Your Garden Layout Take time to think about your vegetable garden layout and sketch out your plans. Maybe it’s to produce crops that have enough excess produce to sell. Maybe the goal is simply to produce a harvest. If gardens are new to you, know it’s totally ok to start small and work your way up from there. As you garden, keep your reason handy as adjustments are made. Maybe you were inspired by someone else’s design and you’d like to incorporate that in your own garden. If you simply want to grow food for yourself, you may have more room to experiment. For a permaculture garden, you’ll move much slower and keep a closed system going to grow vegetables. If a market garden is your goal, you’ll want to use the most efficient resources at your disposal.
RAISED GARDEN BED LAYOUT HOW TO
One important question to ask yourself is, “Why do I want to garden?” By understanding your inspiration, and your reasons for growing, you’ll be better informed about how to garden. The plants you choose can deter or attract wildlife too. Netting and fencing can keep out all kinds of wildlife. If you live somewhere that hosts deer, rodents, birds, insects, and feral cats consider them in your plan too.
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You may have an idea to build beds that have accompanying attachments that shield plants from the intense cold, or maybe you’re interested in allowing the season to dictate how you garden, planting rain-loving vegetables in wet seasons, and avoiding cultivation in extremes.Īnother consideration is wildlife.
RAISED GARDEN BED LAYOUT FULL
If there are seasons chock full of precipitation, you may consider planning for water catchment. Then decide which bed type works best for you. Check out a soil map to see what kind of soil is in the earth under your feet. Therefore, most gardeners choose to build beds on top of the soil, rather than till in and amend the soil. Here in Texas, we are “blessed” with heavy clay that doesn’t drain well. While each plant has differing soil requirements, you may need to build a base soil that can be amended per plant. The soil that exists in the yard may need to be amended. You may want to do some excavation to create inclines and level areas. Tiered beds may be an excellent option for someone with a step-like elevation in their yard. They also influence the plants you choose to grow and the kinds of beds you prefer to use. Inclines and ditches change the way water moves through your garden. You’ll thank yourself for the prep later as the seasonal extremes set in.Ĭonsider the topography of the area and the size of the area. Are there structures that can help shade plants in intense heat? Are there part shade patches next to fully sunlit areas? Contemplate the general range of temperatures in the season you’re planning for before you decide on any of the particulars. Think about the temperature range of the area. Note the light will change angles as the season changes too. Large trees can block out sunlight and need to be acknowledged as you observe. A yard that has access to sunlight from the south in the northern hemisphere (and north in the southern hemisphere) is ideal for growing a wide range of plants. It’s important to understand how the space is oriented, and what kind of permanent features will influence your gardening practice. Initial Observationsīefore you plan a vegetable garden, spend time observing the area you want to cultivate. Ideally, the planning phase takes longer than implementation because there’s a lot to consider.
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Here are some of the first steps in planning your vegetable garden. Vegetable Garden Layout Design Look at the area you have to work with to determine sun availability and potential problem areas. Now, let’s get into everything you need to create and maintain a lovely vegetable garden. Whether this is your first garden or an established garden a good plan is necessary. Keep your initial inspiration and mission in mind to revisit as the seasons go on and you’ll have no trouble at all.
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Get excited! Get inspired, and you’ll have the momentum to get through some of the small hurdles that can arise as you garden. One thing you need to ensure the best vegetable garden layout possible is excitement. There are slow methods, fast methods, and plenty of in-between modes too. The seasonal cycles allow you to adjust and redefine the kind of gardening you want to do. Your garden layout, even after it’s fully developed, isn’t permanent. While there’s a lot that goes into planning and creating a vegetable garden, it’s easy if you stay organized.
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If you’re new to vegetable gardening, don’t be intimidated. Early spring is here! The time has come to plan your vegetable garden layout.
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