Spacing between raised beds??
andys_garden
14 years ago
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keski
14 years agoribbit32004
14 years agoRelated Discussions
How much space between raised veg beds?
Comments (2)Mower width is important if you plan to mow between the beds, and that's usually 22 inches for a walk behind. Most people cluster beds with narrow pathways between them, with wider corridors down one side for easy access with carts, etc....See MorePutting Straw or a cover crop in walkway between raised beds
Comments (22)I've got a little over 1200 sq ft in raised beds right now. I use cardboard covered by wood chips in my pathways. The wood chips hold moisture where the plants can access it - even in hot, dry weather the area under the chips is cool and damp; and I don't have to water near as much. The chips also provide a 4 season path to walk on/work from. I add more chips each year; and if weeds are a problem - ie: if I let lambsquarter go to seed - I lay down a sheet of cardboard over the weedy area before putting down the new layer of chips. The chips break down over a period of about 3 years, at which time I rake back the top, intact chips, then dig out the composted material. I'm a little OCD, so I sift the big chunks out (and use them to mulch around fruit trees), then use the sifted material to mulch the plants in the garden. I don't incorporate it - I let the worms take care of that. Since I rarely turn the soil in my raised beds, preferring to use a bulb auger to dig the holes for my plants; it doesn't get incorporated in a large way, so no nitrogen stealing. [IMG]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f262/Polly916/100_0053.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f262/Polly916/100_0126.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f262/Polly916/100_0122.jpg[/IMG] The cardboard seems to draw worms to the garden, so that is a mark in it's favor. The paths in the front section of my garden are 3' wide, and that's too narrow to suit me. The paths are about 4 1/2 feet wide in the back section of garden, with 6' wide paths between the sections; and a full 6' wide in the newest section, which allows me to bring a lawn tractor and trailer in to haul manure/compost/mulch/bedding plants/water/etc... The 6' width also allowed room for my Pop's golf cart to pass through. I plan to add another 4, 4x8 raised beds to the garden this year; and if finances allow, I will redo the front section of garden, and widen the paths in that area. I have plenty of ground, so the wide paths work better for me. YMMV....See Moreweed control between raised beds
Comments (7)Someone recommended that I use old carpet - I didn't have enough for where I wanted it to go but it does work great on a section I had in front of my unseen deck's access. It does get really ugly but nylon never dies. Check with carpet installers for their leftovers. You can spray it with bleach solution or straight vinegar if the weed seeds find enough dirt built up in the fibers. I have used old roofing shingles in my flat propagating beds - that worked for 4 years but now they are moving and mud has built up on them and I am not about to sweep them. I do know that underneath will be weed free for one season for sure. I would not recommend gravel. It is initially expensive and lovely but leaves tuck into each little space between each and every rock forever, eventually building up to leaf mold with rocks that every weed seed finds. Since you will not garden ever there, try Corn Meal Gluten. You can get it at large feed supply stores pretty inexpensively in bulk (it is used in animal feed), or on the web for a price, or at Lowe's for an even bigger price per pound called Preen Organic. It depends on how much you want to pay for convenience along with how much you'll need to cover. It will kill emerging seed roots so you'll have to work hard at first by pulling all the visible weeds and their roots. Should last at least 18 months though and it is easy to apply (loosely sprinkled) and totally organic. Nancy the nancedar...See Moreseeking heavy duty ground cover between raised beds
Comments (1)You say you are able to mow what is currently there. If it is wide enough to mow, I'd plant grass....See Morepaully1
14 years agogardener_mary
14 years agowalkerjks
14 years ago
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