Raised garden beds are all the rage but can require lots of maintenance. Instead, many people are turning to wicking garden beds.
WATCH: Charlie Albone’s guide to wicking beds
A wicking garden bed is a raised garden bed designed to conserve water and efficiently irrigate plants from below the surface.
Creating a water reservoir at the bottom that feeds the plants above means the bed requires less watering and far less soil.
But there are some common mistakes people make when establishing their garden beds.
Here are five common mistakes people make and how to avoid them.
Wicking garden bed mistakes
1. Not using adequate lining
The key to a successful wicking bed is having a good quality waterproof barrier, such as a pond liner or plastic sheet. If you don’t seal your garden bed properly, water will leak, and wicking will be inadequate.
2. Not installing proper drainage
Yes, your wicking bed needs water, but it also needs drainage. Insufficient drainage can lead to root rot and other moisture-related problems for your plants. An easy way to do drain a wicking garden bed is to install an overflow tap. Make sure you’re monitoring the water levels and adjust as needed.
3. Not using the right soil
The type of soil you use in your wicking garden bed matters. Your soil must contain a well-balanced mix of quality soil, compost, and other organic matter to keep it aerated – otherwise, your soil will collapse, and your plants won’t grow.
4. Incorrect plant selection
Some plants are better suited for wicking beds than others. Selecting plants with different water requirements or growing too large for the bed can cause problems. Plants that grow well in a wicking garden bed include:
5. Neglecting mulch
Once your plants are settled in the garden bed, the final step is to add mulch. Adding mulch helps to conserve moisture and regulate the temperature of your garden bed.
Top 5 raised garden beds
1. Gordo galvanised steel raised garden bed, $69.95, Temple & Webster
2. 110cm Ergo Hex raised garden beds (set of 2), $219, Temple & Webster
3. Potey raised garden bed with greenhouse, $158.41, Amazon.
4. VidaXL raised garden bed, $97.99, Amazon
5. A Anleolife 120cm round raised garden beds (set of 2), Amazon
For more great gardening stories, check out the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
You might also like:
Charlie Albone’s guide to creating raised garden beds
What is the wicking bed method?
How to make wicking beds with old wine barrels
How to fill a raised garden bed, cheap
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
