soil, mulch, & watering
Now that you’ve created the actual physical space and area of your garden, you probably still have many unanswered questions such as, what soil should I use for my raised garden beds? What is mulch and why should I add mulch around my plants? How much and how often should I be watering my plants? Let’s start by preparing our garden beds and understanding how to take care of our crops. In this section, I will be covering the topics of soil, mulch and watering.
The key to a successful garden is preparing and maintaining healthy soil. No matter how much sunlight or water you give your plants, if they are being grown in poor soil it will struggle to grow successfully. Whereas if you have good soil, your plants will grow stronger and healthier with fewer pests in the way so make sure you invest in quality soil. Fortunately, soil in a raised bed will remain well-drained and loose which makes it perfect for gardening. As you get started, you may wonder which soil to fill your raised garden beds with as there are hundreds of options out there from topsoil to potting soil.
Typically having a blend of various soils will work best. Check out this handy soil calculator to calculate how much soil you will need for your garden. You may make your own soil mix but if you are looking to purchase in bags, look for triple mix such as this one. Triple mix contains 1/3 soil, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 compost. Look for labels stating that it is organic and is used for gardening needs. After filling up your raised garden beds with triple mix, I like to top it off with even more compost.
It is important that you test your soil! If you are working in the school garden, there is a high probability that there is already soil in your garden beds. Do not assume it is ready to go as you should still test your soil. Click here to be redirected to an Amazon page to purchase a soil test kit that is very simple to use. By testing your soil, you will figure whether or not your soil will need any adjustments such as its pH level or any nutrient deficiencies. On average, most garden crops prefer soil to have a pH between 6 and 7 (neutral). The pH scale ranges from 1 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline). After testing, adjust according to your soil test recommendations before you begin planting. At the end of each gardening season, you will need to replenish nutrients by adding compost or fertilizers.
First of all, what is mulch? Mulch is any material that can be used to cover and lay over the surface of soil. It is recommended that you apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch for a raised gardening bed while keeping the mulch an inch away from any plant stems. Check out this handy mulch calculator to calculate how much mulch you will need. You do not want to apply a really thick layer of mulch as it will cut off your plants’ air circulation and suffocate them. For that reason, try to remove as much old mulch as you can before adding a new layer.
There are two types, organic and inorganic, although I recommend you to use organic mulch with fine to medium texture as it will eventually decay into the soil and improve your soil’s organic content. There are tons of different types of organic mulch including grass clippings, newspaper, shredded leaves, compost, cardboard, straw, pine needles, and bark. Inorganic mulch such as stone, gravel, or plastic are not as effective as it adds no nutritional value to your soil overtime.
There are many reasons why you should use mulch in your garden. Mulch helps reduce moisture loss and retain moisture in the soil which means you will not have to water your garden as frequently as an unmulched garden. This will save water and it is especially beneficial in the summer when soil tends to dry out faster. Covering the soil with mulch helps regulate the soil’s temperature, as well as preventing weed growth by creating a barrier and blocking out sunlight. Mulching will help increase beneficial soil organisms like earthworms and it will also protect your plants from any harsh weather.
Tip #1: Local tree cutting companies often give away free wood chips for mulch so do not be afraid to ask away! Most are happy to know their wood chips will be used and for someone to take it away for them. Just make sure you bring your own container to fill it up!
Tip #2: Another way to get free mulch is to simply gather any available material on your own in your surroundings. This will be a fun activity for children to get involved as well.
How much water? When to water? How often to water? A common mistake that many new gardeners or children make is thinking that more water means the plants will grow faster and better. The general rule of thumb when watering your garden is one inch of water over the surface of your raised garden bed per week which is equivalent to 0.623 gallons per sq ft. To calculate how much water is needed, use the equation: __ sq ft garden x 0.623 gallons per sq ft = __ gallons per week. You may even break it down further and solve the equation: __ gallons per week ÷ 7 days = __ gallons per day.
Watering by hand is a very satisfying way to water your garden, not to mention it is a great brain break and fun activity especially for the little ones! To prevent overwatering when working with children, use a bucket with a known volume or measure water into a bucket and mark the level. A great way to show children how much water is needed is to let children know how many “buckets” of water the garden will need. To water, children will simply need to fill up the buckets and refill their watering cans from the buckets of water. Select about 3 "watering leaders" each week whose duty will be to check if enough buckets of water is being used and if children are watering properly. Check out this amazing watering chart for a general guideline as well.
The amount of water and frequency to water depends on the season, climate and weather. For example, you will need to water once or sometimes even twice a day during hot summer months. Whereas, you may only need to water once every few days or not at all if it had rained a lot during fall and spring months. With that said, do not wait for the rain to help water your garden if your plant is showing signs that it needs water! Use a rain gauge, such as this one from Amazon, to see how much rain your garden had received and how much additional water you will need to add. Use your own judgment when it is time to water by sticking your finger in it, if the soil is dry 2 inches below the soil’s surface then you should give it a thorough watering.
Tip #1: Water early in the morning. The sunlight is weakest in the morning which means less water will be evaporated.
Tip #2: Water deeply. Ensure that the water seeps through the soil and reaches the roots of your plants.
Tip #3: Water slowly at the base of the plant. Do not water too fast or else the soil will not have enough time to absorb all the water (water will evaporate or runoff).
Tip #4: Grow thirsty plants together. Be mindful of where you decide to plant by grouping plants according to their water needs.