WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON
Back To The Earth Whenever my head starts to hurt Before it goes from bad to feeling worse I turn off my phone, I get down low And put my hands in the dirt –Jason Mraz
There’s definitely something therapeutic about putting your hands in the dirt, planting something and watching it grow. Raised garden beds are a great way to ‘get back to the earth’ because they tend to have less weeds, better drainage, and are easier to maintain than in-ground gardening. However, there are a few common mistakes that have the potential to sabotage your raised garden experience.
Location
While raised garden beds don’t have to be permanent structures, they can be almost impossible to move once you’ve filled them full of dirt and installed drip lines, so placing them in the optimum location before you fill is extremely important. Most vegetable plants require at least six hours of sunlight for them to remain happy and healthy. Orienting a rectangle bed north to south will ensure a good amount of light for the plants and also allow you to situate taller plants as shade providers for other smaller ones if needed. In addition to light requirements, be sure to consider convenience. Positioning your beds in an easy to access location of your yard means it will be that much easier to tend and harvest as the season moves on. 32
U P G R A D E D L I V I N G M AG A Z I N E J U LY 2 0 2 0
Soil
Soil is it’s own little microcosm of tiny creatures living and working together to create the perfect substrate for your garden. It’s not just dirt, it is it’s own little ecosystem, so don’t skimp here. Plain bagged potting soil is not what you need, instead head over to The Worm Farm in Durham or Kinney Nursery in Vina and get a mix of topsoil, compost and castings to fill your new space with nutrient and biologically rich soil. This will ensure that your plants have the best possible start.
Chemicals
Herbicides and pesticides can remain in the soil for much longer than you might expect. These lingering chemicals can damage your bed plants and harm those beneficial bugs, like pollinators and pest killers. If you’re looking to block out weeds between beds, line the path with cardboard topped with mulch or ground granite. For spot treatments, pour a 1:1 mixture of hot water and vinegar on the unwanted invaders. Opt for biological pest control options instead of chemical ones by investing in some praying mantis cocoons or packets of ladybugs. Northern Star Mills in Chico usually has some by the checkout registers just waiting to be released among your plants. As you look to get back to the earth and embrace the healing possibility of gardening, be mindful of these possible pitfalls when you build, design, plant, and put your hands in the dirt.
