Many gardeners prefer raised garden beds because they are easy to maintain and look neat. You can grow herbs, fruit, flowers and vegetables in raised beds. Of course, watering is crucial for your plants to develop properly and for you to enjoy a healthy, thriving garden. What are the best options for raised bed irrigation? When and how do you water your raised beds? We answer these questions in our article.
How often should I water my raised bed?
How often you water your raised beds depends on a few factors. First, it depends on the time of year. During the hot months you will need to water your beds at least once or twice a day. It is best to water early in the morning or in the evening. Watering every other day may be necessary in the cooler months. Seedlings need to be watered twice a day until they are large enough. The frequency of irrigation also depends on the location of the raised beds. If your beds are in the blazing sun, the plants will need more water and more frequent watering than if you, for example, have them. B. stand in partial shade.
What do you need to consider when watering?
If you use a raised bed irrigation system, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Different plants have different water needs and you should know your plants so you can water them properly. As a rule, plants need sufficient and consistent moisture to grow healthily. Water deeply enough to moisten the entire root system of the plant. Shallow watering that does not irrigate the entire root system will affect healthy root growth.
Do not overwater the plants as this can lead to root rot. You can use a soil probe (any long metal object, such as a long screwdriver) after watering to check the watering depth. If the probe moves easily through the soil, it is moist. If not, that is itSoil dryand you have to water longer. Don't water too often. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering again.
What options are there for raised bed irrigation?
There are a few options for garden irrigation. Some gardeners preferautomatic irrigation.Watering your raised bed automatically saves you time and makes it effortless. Others love contact with the garden and find manual watering to be a type of therapy and relaxation. Here we show you the best options for irrigation for raised beds. You can choose a right type of irrigation according to your preferences that would benefit your garden.
Drip hoses are an inexpensive and easy irrigation option
Would you like easy irrigation for raised beds? Drip irrigation for raised beds is a low-pressure system for precise water delivery. Drip hoses are probably the most common type of irrigation. They are inexpensive, easy to install and allow water to seep through the entire hose. This ensures consistent watering, which is essential for healthy plants.
It is also water efficient because the water goes directly into the ground and is not lost through evaporation. Another advantage is that the water does not splash on the leaves, which can reduce fungal diseases. Drip irrigation can increase a farmer's water efficiency by up to 70% and reduce energy costs by 50%.
Is overhead irrigation suitable for raised beds?
Many gardeners prefer overhead watering with a sprinkler for their gardens. This is actually a good option for large beds, but doesn't work so well for smaller garden areas. You can easily water flower beds with a sprinkler, but keep in mind that when it comes to vegetable gardening, most summer crops like water only at the roots and not on the leaves, as wet leaves can promote fungal diseases.
One advantage of sprinkler irrigation is thatthat you do the irrigationControl with a timer so that it is less disruptive to your daily life. A disadvantage is that water is lost through evaporation.
Olla's irrigation is inexpensive and easy
Have you ever tried watering your plants with Ollas? This is about clay pots for raised bed irrigation. This is a really good way to have a sustainable garden because it saves you water and money.Find out herethe details on how to set up Ollas irrigation for your plants. We tried this option and it works perfectly as long as you don't try to water too long rows of plants because the ollas need to be planted close to the roots.
Use classic watering by hand
If you are a beginner gardener and your raised beds are not too large, hand watering may be more manageable and easier for you. Many gardeners enjoy watering by hand. It does take a bit of time, but it's nice to have contact with your plants and pay attention to them. This makes it more likely that you will discover pest or disease problems early enough to take action before they become a problem.
If you choose to water by hand, we recommend making it as easy as possible. Use a retractable garden hose that is easy to use. Manual watering gives you control over the amount of water you use. But be careful not to overwater your plants. As you can see, it is very easy to use a suitable irrigation system for raised beds.
Use irrigation balls in raised beds
Irrigation balls are another option for raised bed irrigation. Fill it with water and stick the pointed end into the soil. How do they work? The soil sucks the water out of the ball and your plants are watered. As a rule, a water ball does not last longer than two weeks. This is a good option for watering raised beds while you're on vacation.
