It's time to start the gardening season! Growing vegetables is a wonderful method to get connected with Mother Earth and bring the entire family together in an enjoyable and effective manner. One of the most appealing aspects of gardening with vegetables is the possibility of growing only a couple of vegetables and mixing them up to cultivate a variety of things. It is possible to start with a small herb garden or even a huge vegetable garden. All it takes is a little effort depending on you!
But, deciding on the best spot for your garden will require some planning. If you're only given a little space, you need a simple choice. If you're faced with several options, the decision of which one to place your garden must be determined by a number of crucial elements. Let's take a look at some of the aspects to take into consideration before selecting a place in your backyard.
Do your children have a main play area? If yes, is it close to the spot you'd like to set your garden? A playground, a football pitch, or any other playgrounds that are too close to your garden won't make for a great neighbor. There could be too many people to accommodate both. It is best to stick with the existing traffic patterns instead of trying to squeeze the garden into the middle or next to any play space. If you think that the garden won't be brought into play could be too much to ask, or demand, of the children. So don't fight it. If you can, try to find an out of the way area.
Pets are a different factor to consider when planning the garden area. It is not a good idea to allow them to use your garden as an area for play or bathroom. Cats particularly love freshly cultivated soil. Dogs love digging into the soil in search of treasure or even digging up your own personal treasure. Consider locating an area that will be fenced off with a tiny fencing and wire mesh that will keep your pets as well as other unwanted creatures away from your garden.
If you have a fence-lined backyard and are planning to put your vegetable garden near the fence space, think about the kind of vegetables and plants you'd like to cultivate. Certain plants and vegetables do not take a lot of notice of the man-made barriers. For example, zucchini plants may grow in the fence and cause an issue with your neighbors.
One way to tackle this problem is to create a raised garden bed made of stones, wood, or brick. It requires a bit of work to build the bed, but in time, raised beds offer many benefits, including a more manageable work height, soil aeration, and better drainage. Additionally, the raised design makes a beautiful addition to your property.
Growing plants require plenty of sunlight and water in order to thrive. A garden that is near a source of water will help make your life simpler since you don't have to think about transporting water to feed your vegetables that are growing.
Make sure that your vegetable garden is in an area that receives at minimum 6 hours of straight sunlight each day, especially during the growing season. The sun's full-length rays are ideal for the majority of vegetables, whereas the lack of dappled light and less than 6 hours of direct sunlight can affect plant growth and lower your yield.