| Perhaps as you drive around you have noticed | | | | want to put one or two plants per section. |
| beautifully laid out gardens. The ones that are neatly | | | | Another option for sectioning the bed is to just divide |
| contained in raised planting areas with tidy paths | | | | it equally in two. This is a great way to grow crops |
| between. These raised bed gardens are not only a | | | | like corn, beans, and potatoes. Large spreading crops |
| joy to look at. They are a very productive way to | | | | like squash, pumpkins, and watermelons will each |
| grow plants. | | | | need their own bed so they have ample space to |
| Raised bed gardening is also called square foot | | | | spread. |
| gardening. The original concept was to help gardens | | | | As you plant your beds, keep in mind how large each |
| grow better and produce a higher yield. This type of | | | | plant will ultimately get. You don't want large plants |
| planting also cuts down on water consumption, and is | | | | like corn shading smaller plants. Always keep your |
| a great way to grow a garden in areas that have | | | | plants organized large to small and plant north to |
| poor soil. | | | | south. |
| You begin by constructing a simple raised bed that is | | | | This type of planting encourages the plants to grow |
| four feet by four feet square. A bed this size makes | | | | closer together and so that reduces the room that |
| it easy to reach toward the middle from any side. | | | | weeds would have to grow. Close planting also helps |
| Use wood that is eight to twelve inches wide, this will | | | | to shade the soil so it retains moisture longer and |
| be how tall your raised bed is. Fill the bed with fresh | | | | helps you to conserve water. The plants are well |
| soil. You will want to mix in some slow release | | | | fertilized from the slow release fertilizer you mixed |
| fertilizer. This will feed your plants all summer long and | | | | into the soil at the start and they have adequate |
| will help increase your crop yield. | | | | water. They also get plenty of light because you paid |
| There are several different ways to plant your raised | | | | attention to their size when planting. |
| bed. You can section the bed off in one foot by one | | | | As a result of careful planning, the crops in your |
| foot sections using string. This will give you nine equal | | | | raised beds will produce a great yield of fresh |
| growing spaces. This type of sectioning is perfect for | | | | produce. You will find that raised bed gardening is |
| small crops like peppers, herbs, etc. If you plant crops | | | | easier and more efficient than traditional gardens. The |
| that have larger plants like tomatoes, you will only | | | | fruits of your labor will be worth it! |