Creating a vegetable garden is a relatively easy task in any garden but starting out right is essential if you want things to grow. It is important to begin by blocking the area off into manageable sections so that you can always keep on top of weeding and growth control. The next stage is that of preparing the soil and finally planting. This article considers all you need to know to make your own thriving flowerbeds.
Creating the Frames
Flower or vegetable beds work best when they are split into manageable chunks. The reason for this is that it prevents unwanted growth from taking over and will allow you to confine your projects so that they stay manageable. It will also enable you to easily monitor which beds need treating in what way because there will be no cross-contamination of plants.
To begin the frames it is important to determine which material you want to use. Stone is a good choice but over time it will sink into the bed because of its weight. The best material for garden beds is actually wood. The wood can vary in size from a 1/4 inch plank to a railroad sleeper and both will look fantastic. To make the frame you will simply need a cordless drill and some epoxy glue, which will make the edges watertight and stop weeds growing through the joints. Simply create a box shape which is about a foot high, half a metre deep, and a metre long for each garden bed. This rectangular shape will make an excellent raised flowerbed.
Preparing the Soil
When creating a raised flowerbed like this it is still important to prepare the soil. Dig a ditch of around half a foot deep out of the top soil. This ditch should be large enough to just fit the frame into so that it can later be half buried in this manner. The top soil should all be kept in a wheelbarrow for later too.
Once you have dug away the top soil, use a pickaxe to break up the soil beneath. You are only aiming to turn this soil over and loosen it up a little. Once complete, water the turned over soil lightly, just to make it moist.
Place the frame into the hole and begin by ensuring it is level. Once it is correctly positioned, fill any gaps around the frame with soil to hold it neatly in place as you fill it.
Fill the frame to about half way with bags of peat soil or compost that you have made for yourself from kitchen vegetable leftovers. This will act as the base and will provide rich nutrients for your new vegetable garden.
For the second half of the frame you should reuse the top soil that you dug out earlier. At this stage it is wise to sieve the soil to remove any large stones because they will make digging more difficult later.
Planting
It is then time to plant you vegetables. Research when and how they should be planted because each vegetable is different and be sure to tend them properly. It is worth sprinkling slug poison around the base of the frame to stop anything climbing up but it is actually positive to add worms directly into the vegetable garden because they increase nutrient levels. Any worms you find when weeding should also be added to the bed for greater productivity.