Preparing the site for creating beautiful beds: basic rules
A beautiful vegetable garden is part of the landscape design, an extension of the yard. Original ideas for designing beds will help combine the aesthetic and practical purposes of this part of the garden plot.
Proper soil preparation for planting Source kalipso-busybee.blogspot.com
Loosening the soil, oxygen saturation Source stmarycanons.org
To create a beautiful vegetable garden you need:
- Think over the layout of the site. Based on size, topography, location.
- Decide on a plant map. Plan what crops will be grown, select conditions for their development.
- Prepare the irrigation system. Decide what type will be used (automatic, manual, drip or sprinkling). Mark the points where the water connections are located.
Drip irrigation of the garden Source zabtr.ru
Scheme of organizing drip irrigation on the site Source svoimi-rykami.ru
- Choose a landscape design style. It should be in harmony with the overall concept of the house and yard.
- Consider lighting so that you can approach the garden bed in the evening.
- Decide what materials will be used to make the shape of the bed.
Beautiful garden beds at the dacha will not only create an interesting landscape composition, but will also increase the yield per 1 acre if vertical container beds filled with fertile humus are used.
We are planning a place for a vegetable garden.
Smart vegetable garden design begins with thoughtful planning. You must decide what size your garden will be, what vegetables you will grow in it, where your beds will be located.
Your vegetable garden will not always be large; more and more summer residents are leaning towards a small vegetable garden, which takes its rightful place in the overall landscape design of the garden.
Original bed ideas
Generally speaking, there are two main directions in style and planning: regulatory and free. The first involves the use of clear geometric shapes with an accentuated compositional center. Harmonizes with classical trends in architecture. The free direction is closer to natural, natural forms and largely imitates them. Pairs perfectly with ethnic style and Japanese minimalism. They mainly use natural materials to create beds: wood, wild stone, pebbles.
Different shapes for beds Source pinterest.com
Gabion beds
This is an original solution for creating raised, high beds. Gabion is a mesh metal container that is filled with pebbles, large stones, and pieced decorative glass. Gabions are suitable for cascading beds in areas with uneven terrain. They look impressive and prevent the soil from sliding.
Gabion beds of different sizes Source tandemarch.ru
They make tall, raised flower beds. From metal mesh containers you can make beds and flower beds of various shapes.
You can buy ready-made metal containers in stores and supermarkets, or make them yourself.
Gabion in the shape of a butterfly for decorating beds Source zabor-gabion.com.ua
Sequence of gabion manufacturing:
- Draw a sketch of the gabion, draw a diagram with dimensions.
- Select a galvanized mesh with cells in accordance with the fraction of the material with which the container will be filled. The material can be construction mesh for reinforcement.
- Cut the blanks to size according to the sketch (in 2 copies).
- Cut out transverse partitions from the mesh. They are installed inside the container in increments of 80-100 cm.
- Connect all the elements of the blanks using wire.
- Prepare the area, make a small depression (about 10 cm) in the shape of a gabion.
- Place a container in it.
- Fill it with pebbles, stones, and other materials (wooden blocks, pieces of glass).
- Line the inside of the gabion with geotextile materials.
- Fill the gabion with soil.
Spiral stepped gabion Source bellissa.de
Gabions organically fit into areas of various sizes and reliefs.
Wooden containers
Ideal for creating “warm, smart” beds.
Wooden containers for garden beds Source fft.msk.ru
Small boxes for garden beds Source eco-d-eco.ru
Manufacturing procedure:
- Draw a diagram of the box.
- They plan and mark out the site.
- Cut out boards and connecting corner bars to size. The beam should be 15 - 20 cm longer than the height of the container.
- All elements of the box are connected to each other using nails and self-tapping screws.
- It is recommended to additionally strengthen corner joints with metal corners for structural reliability.
- You can make a small depression in the soil under the container to stabilize the structure.
- Install the box in the designated area.
- Fill it up.
Greenhouse container for garden beds Source 2i2s.ru
The process of making wooden containers Source besplatka.ua
If you plan to grow root crops, then a metal mesh is placed at the bottom of the container to prevent rodents from digging in.
Vertical beds
A beautiful garden bed located in a vertical position will decorate any garden or garden plot. Ideal for small areas. Mostly plants with a slightly branched root system are grown: salads, spices. Strawberries and strawberries are planted.
Hanging beds for strawberries Source dombalcony.ru
Vertical beds made from plastic bottles Source diz-cafe.com
The vertical structure consists of two main parts: a frame and hanging multi-tiered containers. Fences and railings are also used as frames.
They are made from various materials:
- plastic bottles;
- PVC pipes;
- containers for flowers;
- bamboo;
- drain pipes;
Economical vertical bed for strawberries Source kharkovforum.com
Vertical beds are easy to make with your own hands:
- The selected container is secured to the base with self-tapping screws. There is no need to spare the fastenings, as they must withstand the weight of the earth with planting and watering.
- Make a couple of holes in the bottom of the future “pot” for drainage.
- Plant the selected plant.
DIY pallet beds Source jsdfurniture.com
Tip: You can create several modules of a strong base, no more than 1 meter wide, so that the beds can be moved to the desired location.
Examples of decorative fences
There are quite a few ways of zoning beds with decorative fences. The choice of material is dictated by the style of landscape design. Decorative borders are suitable for tall, raised beds.
Types of decorative fencing:
- Live trimmed hedge. This category includes edgings, plants planted along garden paths, mixborders - green fences in several tiers made of various plants.
Green fencing for beds Source yandex.ru
- Wattle is an affordable option. Fits organically into the natural landscape. To make plant branches bend better during production, they can first be soaked in hot water.
Wattle for plantings Source pxhere.com
- Wooden boxes.
Tall wooden structure Source happydiysite.com
- Decorative fencing made from sawn logs.
- An inexpensive, reliable way is galvanized sheets of metal. They bend easily and are durable.
- Fences made of wild stone are a reliable natural decor for a beautiful garden bed.
They make borders from other available materials: tiles, plastic, glass bottles. In departments of goods for gardening and vegetable gardens, special garden borders are sold in the form of plastic tapes with pegs.
Record your garden design on paper.
Even a small vegetable garden requires careful planning.
Having a pre-designed garden design on paper will help you analyze the effectiveness of your design for the current season and plan new plant combinations and new beds for future seasons.
Proper placement of beds on the site: 5 nuances you need to know about
Place the garden in a well-lit area, with the expectation that it will receive less shadow from nearby buildings.
- When oriented to the cardinal points, it is preferable to choose areas in the south, southeast direction.
- Width, length of the bed. Optimal parameters allow you to process plants without entering the territory. They recommend a width from 60 cm to 100 cm, the length depends on the area of the garden and landscape design. The width of the tracks is 45-50 cm.
There are other methods of growing crops, for example, “Mitlider beds” with a width of 45 cm and a path of 90 cm.
- The height of the bed depends on the quality of the soil and preferences. Varies from 20 cm to 70-80 cm. On sandy soils it is better to make raised ones (30-40 cm); for clay soils, high containers are suitable. “Smart beds” are popular among gardeners; the soil in them is made according to a special layering scheme: drainage from branches; straw or dry grass, foliage; compost; top layer of earth.
- It is necessary to take into account the rules of agriculture. Plants must be compatible. Take into account the rules of crop rotation.
Mulching as an important stage of preparation Source bankfs.ru
- Please note that weeds are prevented from appearing: edges of beds, equipped paths, mulching the soil with straw, tree bark, and grass.
These rules will help you organize the life of your beds more efficiently and have fewer problems with weeds.
A vegetable garden can really be beautiful and bring a decent harvest if the rules of agriculture are followed in combination with the aesthetics of designing the beds.
Lawn grass design ideas
A carpet of lawn grass is not only a beautiful design for the area. It performs several practical functions: it prevents soil erosion, dust formation, and the spread of weeds. It's nice to walk on it barefoot.
Lawn design of a site with beds Source ogorod.mirtesen.ru
The soil for planting lawn grass needs to be prepared:
- clear paths of debris and stones;
- remove the top fertile layer;
- fill the cleared area with fine gravel (up to 10 cm); • sprinkle with sand (10 cm);
- on top, the drainage of gravel and sand is covered with a layer of previously removed earth; • sow grass.
Lawn grass is best planted in spring or late summer. The grass needs to be mowed several times a season to keep it looking well-groomed and strengthen the root structure of the plant.
Design ideas for salad and other crops
Salad crops are not only healthy, they are distinguished by their variety of species, beauty of shape, and variety of colors. That is why gardeners often use them to decorate their gardens, including to highlight the border line.
Variety of salad crops in organized beds Source ugra-news.ru
Salad crops include:
- sorrel;
- arugula;
- fennel;
- extragon;
- Chinese cabbage;
- endive, leaf, head salads.
Salads go well with other vegetables, so they are used as demarcation barriers in the garden, separating crops.
Lettuce seeds are small. To grow them, you need prepared soil, sufficiently moist, well loosened, without large lumps.
A separate salad bed with different varieties will decorate any garden.
The herb garden is another popular garden element. Aromatic herbs are spices that complement the taste of many dishes, including meat and fish. Such plants include:
- basil;
- cilantro;
- mint;
- Melissa;
- dill;
- parsley;
- sage;
- marjoram;
- tarragon.
In addition to their culinary benefits, the plants are beautiful in shape, flowering, and foliage color, so the fragrant flower bed looks beautiful.
BONUS: 5 super ideas and non-standard solutions
Decorating a vegetable garden is not only a useful activity, but also an exciting creative process. If you use your imagination and use your imagination, you can create an exclusive garden composition. A large number of improvised means and old things are used as decoration and small architectural forms.
Children are often involved in this work. Children especially like to dress up the garden scarecrow. It scares away birds and serves as a decoration for the area.
Beautiful design of a small vegetable garden Source diz-cafe.com
Modern vegetable garden design
The main principle of modern garden design is combination. By abandoning the idea of ordinary flat beds of only cabbage, next to which are placed boring beds of only cucumbers, you can turn your garden into a work of art.
How often do we pay attention to the beauty of the tops of carrots and beets, or how dotted inclusions of unpretentious marigolds add a beautiful bright accent to the overall greenery of the garden?
Flowers located among the greenery of the garden create sparks of light. They are also a great way to attract beneficial insects. By learning to “paint” with the texture, color and shape of plants in your garden, you can create a real vegetable bed.
And, as in an ordinary flowerbed, in the design of your vegetable garden you can fully express your imagination, gain new experience and rejoice at successful finds.
Even a small space in the garden bed can be filled with a mixture of vegetables and flowers, which complement each other and serve as an advantageous backdrop for plants of the most vibrant colors.
