There’s nothing more exciting than deciding to grow your own vegetables or cut flowers at home. Maybe you’re going for a custom raised bed, or decide to DIY one on your own. Either way, it’s best to know what garden designers think about before they build a thing. Here’s what Christian Douglas, founder of The Backyard Farm Co. in Marin County, and their lead farmer, Christiana Paoletti, say you need to consider.
1. Plot the Location Wisely
“The most important decision of all is where to locate your raised bed because it needs to be somewhere with enough sunlight for plants to thrive,” says Paoletti. Make sure your raised bed will get eight to 12 hours of direct sunlight during the summer and don’t forget that the sun moves during the gardening season, so make sure tall trees, house facades, and fence shadows won’t get in the way.
“Anything less than six hours of sunlight will result in slow growth and small harvests, especially when it comes to heat-loving crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash,” says Douglas. In other words, don’t relegate your vegetable raised bed to a dim, out-of-the-way corner of your yard. You need a sunny spot, and hopefully, you’ll be able to admire…
