Creating a good garden bed is the most important step of raising a healthy garden!
When considering what to plant, it is important to first ask what kind of earth you are working with. Are you creating a raised garden bed or are you planting in-ground? Is your soil sandy and dry or clay and wet? In this article, we will look through different kinds of garden beds, their benefits, and their best uses!
1. IN-GROUND GARDENS
These are the most common gardens for trees, perennials, and shrubs. In-ground gardens are created at the natural soil level and do not require a structure to hold their space. To create an in ground garden, you should start by doing the following things:
- clear debris, grass roots, or unwanted plants.
- evaluate the sun exposure of the area (does it get more than 6 hours of sunlight?)
- Consider the soil condition (does it seem very dry? Very wet? Is it sandy?)
If you aren't sure, you can use a number of garden tools to help determine what you'll need to enhance the garden bed. We always recommend using a soil test kit to determine the pH of your soil.
Most plants like well-draining, loamy soil. If your earth is hard to break through, excessively dry, sandy, or clay, you will need to add new garden soil. We recommend a 3-in-1 mix for shrub, perennial, and tree planting. It contains a mix of earth, peat moss, and composted manure to provide the new plant roots with a suitable growing environment. If the earth is to clay-filled, the roots will have a hard time establishing and will likely be sitting in too much water. If the soil is too sandy, there may be too few nutrients available and not enough water. Adding new soil to the planting area is one of the best ways to ensure your garden beds are level, aerated, and can offer a healthy growing environment. Break up the existing soil with a trowel or a shovel, and mix in the new soil to amend planting area. By mixing in the earth, you loosen the existing earth to make way for new root growth and minimize the likelihood of soil separation or runoff.
Once you've amended the soil, consider applying a weed barrier to better insulate the soil, improve water retention, and prevent unwanted growth throughout the garden. To plant, cut holes in the weed barrier 1.5X the size of the pot you are planting to ensure that the roots will access to water and added fertilizers.
Once you're all planted, consider adding a layer of mulch to help insulate the garden, prevent weeds and unwanted growth, as well as adding a polished look to the garden bed. Mulch should be applied in thick, even layers and replenished over the years.
2. RAISED GARDEN BEDS
Raised garden beds are best suited for annual flowers and vegetables. These gardens are created above the natural grade and is therefore more susceptible to winter damage and root freezing. It is possible to plant perennials and shrubs in some raised planters (send us an email to ask us what is best suited for your garden project!). Raised garden beds benefit from having a light, well draining soil so that the roots can permeate deeper into the planter.
Raised garden beds should ideally have layers to them, the first being rocks or thick branches for drainage. This can then be covered by chicken wire or garden mesh to avoid soil runoff or sinking. The soil layer only needs to have a depth of 14-24" (40-60cm) depending on the annuals you are looking to grow.
Fill your raised garden beds with a potting soil for annuals and vegetables. These mixes have less earth in them and usually include perlite or other additives like wood chips for aeration. Dense soils like top soil or black earth compact too easily and do not offer the drainage benefits that potting soil does, and may lead to more instances of root rot, mold colonies, and garden pests.
Similar to in-ground garden beds, you can add a weed barrier and mulch to the raised bed if the size permits it. Remember to leave a well (bare earth exposed) at the base of each plant to ensure it has access to water and added nutrients (like fertilizer).
3. PLANTER BOXES OR ELEVATED GARDENS
Potted arrangements, planter boxes, and elevated gardens require 2 things: a good spring cleaning and a replenishing of potting soil. Cleaning your pots ensures that there are no overwintered bugs, fungus, or pests lurking in the overwintered soil or in the ridges of the pot. Replenishing the pots with new soil ensures a new supply of nutrients for the annuals and vegetables. These arrangements are good for gardeners who have mobility limitations (raised to a standing level), who like to rearrange their gardens frequently (portable pots) or have limited garden space. Planter boxes, elevated gardens, and potted arrangements can only be used seasonally, as they are above the frost line over the winter. Perennials, shrubs, and trees require more substantial insulation (like the ground) to more comfortably survive the winter.
Hopefully after reading this article, you feel more prepared to tackle your gardens this spring! Shop all materials, soils, and garden tools at Knippel garden centre!