The amount of watering a raised bed garden needs varies with the season, climate and weather. During hot summer months you may need to water once or twice daily. Early mornings and evenings are best. During the cooler seasons of fall and early spring, you may only need to water every few days, and go weeks without watering during the Read more…
Soil mixes can be bought in bags at most garden centers and nurseries. Bagged soil is usually more expensive, however, than buying soil in bulk. Bulk soil is sold by the cubic yard and available at some nurseries, farms and specialty shops selling landscape materials. It can usually be delivered to your home for a fee. Bulk soil is cheaper Read more…
Installing drip irrigation systems for your raised bed garden can save a lot of time watering. Drip irrigation used in conjunction with mulch reduces evaporation and makes watering much more efficient. Place irrigation lines or soaker hoses just under the mulch or soil surface to keep your plants moist while depriving surface weeds from water. Drip irrigation is also an Read more…
Deer fencing made from light weight material such as plastic can be purchased in rolls and secured to tall stakes or posts. Deer fences should be at least 7 feet tall so the animals can’t jump over. Bird netting prevents birds and deer alike from reaching fruits and berries. Drap the material over posts or trellises and secure it to Read more…
Staked fencing can be used to keep rabbits out of your garden. Use three foot high metal mesh fencing burried underground or secured to the sides of the planter as a barrier against rabbits. Tall raised beds will help prevent rabits from reaching plants from above, while hardware cloth secured to the bottoms of raised beds will keep rabits from digging up Read more…
The trick is to catch infestations early and to be consistent in trapping and killing rodents before they bear more offspring. Mechanical traps are the safest and most effective control method against rats and mice. After setting traps, check them regularly for dead rodents. You can safely bury non-poisoned carcasses in a shallow hole, well away from the home and Read more…
Dogs can dig up plants and soil, contaminate gardens with urine and feces, and generally wreck havoc on delicate landscapes, unless trained otherwise. Besides fencing, there are a number of ways to discourage dogs from your garden. Many sprays and powders made to deter dogs are commercially available. Similarly, numerous home remedies, usually containing mustard powder, cayenne and similar ingredients Read more…
Fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, are a common problem in wet and humid environments. Raised beds reduce the risk of fungal infection by elevating plants above the ground to increase airflow and lower humidity. Avoid over-watering and watering at night, particularly in cooler weather. Be careful to water at the ground level so infected foliage doesn’t get wet. Trellis plants Read more…
Usually, it is not necessary to use chemical pesticides and fungicides in a home garden; and using toxic chemicals will likely do more harm than good. Instead, consider using non-chemical solutions such as interplanting insectory and companion plants in your garden, maintaining healthy soil fertility, and using organic sprays or diatomaceous earth dustings. If you cannot curb a serious pest Read more…
Raised bed gardening provides a head start on spring planting, speeds up plant growth, reduces the work necessary to harvest, and provides a more abundant yield than an in-ground garden. Few if any weeds tend to grow through the tops of beds that are 11 inches or taller, and the planter provides a natural barrier against pests. The walkways between raised Read more…