Elements of Garden Plot Design
We probably don't think too much about it, but the earth has a limited amount of land. In a community garden setting, we also have a limited amount of land to dole out to garden members. Intensively growing enough food to be self-sufficient in a limited space makes garden design and land conservation a priority. The garden plot should provide for maximum growing space and ease of irrigation, but also be easily accessible by the gardener for care, allow for ongoing replanting cycle maintenance, provide clear and protective borders, and allow for personal creativity and eye appeal. The layout of hard landscape, such as paths, walls, irrigation, sitting areas, and the plants themselves should be considered at the beginning.
Boundaries - Boundaries may be constructed for several reasons: to clearly identify a personal growing area, to keep out livestock or intruders, to prevent infringement by neighboring plots, to provide privacy, to create shelter from strong winds, to contain plants to the assigned growing area, to provide for micro-climates, and to create beauty and eye appeal. The main types of boundaries within a community garden plot are pathways, pipelines, wood boards, logs, and fences. These are often designed when a new garden is started, but can be added later if they were overlooked. Identify and mark boundary lines before you begin to avoid costly mistakes. Select an equipment safe material for your boundary line, such as PVC piping, logs, plastic borders, or a low fence. Avoid rocks, bricks, metal, and rebar as they may become easily hidden when things grow in and present an ongoing equipment and safety hazard. When complete, your boundary should clearly delineate your growing area while adding eye appeal and protecting your plants growing space.
Pathway Surfaces - Surfaces for paths and access points are chosen for practical as well as aesthetic reasons. Consider safety, ease of maintenance, and durability when designing your pathways. Pathways in a community garden include those between plots as well as any that you create within your own plot to enhance access for maintenance and care. Materials commonly used on pathways in community gardens include weed mat, mulch, and old carpeting. Most gardeners find weeding a chore, so pathways should be designed with minimal maintenance in mind. A good base material should be selected that will block the sun from reaching the soil surface to prevent weed growth.
Planting Design - Planting design is perhaps the most important aspect of garden design. Most vegetable gardeners want to maximize their growing area and produce as much as possible in the limited space they have. Ease of access for maintenance and replanting is also a priority. Sections of the garden should be easily amended and tilled for replanting as they are harvested. There are four main designs commonly used in community gardens: farm rows, bed rows, creative, and raised beds.
Pathway Surfaces - Surfaces for paths and access points are chosen for practical as well as aesthetic reasons. Consider safety, ease of maintenance, and durability when designing your pathways. Pathways in a community garden include those between plots as well as any that you create within your own plot to enhance access for maintenance and care. Materials commonly used on pathways in community gardens include weed mat, mulch, and old carpeting. Most gardeners find weeding a chore, so pathways should be designed with minimal maintenance in mind. A good base material should be selected that will block the sun from reaching the soil surface to prevent weed growth.
- Heavy duty weed mat and old carpeting are good choices. Watch out for the inexpensive, lighter duty, soft plastic weed mat sold in rolls in hardware stores as it easily tears. Heavy duty weed mat or old carpeting can stand alone in a pathway and usually provide for the least maintenance. Be aware of dirt and leaves collecting on them though as seed will easily find it's way into the dirt and weeds will begin to grow on top and eventually root through the material. Both carpet and heavy duty weed mat can be easily maintained with a broom to sweep the pathway once a week.
- A more natural material a lot of gardeners like is mulch. Mulch can be easily applied on top of heavy duty weed mat or old carpeting and provides an organic look. However, mulch applied directly on top of the dirt does not prevent weed growth, thus requires regular weeding and quarterly re-application as the mulch composts down into dirt. Mulch applied on top of a weed blocking material works better, but the mulch will also compost down into dirt every three months or so and require clearing and reapplication.
Planting Design - Planting design is perhaps the most important aspect of garden design. Most vegetable gardeners want to maximize their growing area and produce as much as possible in the limited space they have. Ease of access for maintenance and replanting is also a priority. Sections of the garden should be easily amended and tilled for replanting as they are harvested. There are four main designs commonly used in community gardens: farm rows, bed rows, creative, and raised beds.
Farm rows involve long, raised rows with dirt walk space in between.
- Advantages - Simplest arrangement.
- Challenges
- Minimizes growing space. Lots of open space to weed. Entire row
needs to be harvested before amending, tiling, and replanting can occur.
Bed rows involve a pathway down the middle of the plot with defined square beds lined up along each side. Rows can be planted within each bed and do not require walking space in between rows. Each bed can be used for a different crop.
- Advantages - Maximizes growing space. Minimizes weeding. Allows for amending, tilling, and replanting in each bed as a crop is harvested.
- Challenges - Limits creativity.
Creative design involves any flowing design in which standard rows and square beds are not used. Curved lines and mixed planting are common in this design.
- Advantages - Allows for individual creativity. Maximizes growing space. Minimizes open spaces needing weeding.
- Challenges - Less organized. Makes planning and crop rotation more challenging. Makes it difficult to amend, till, and replant as each crop is harvested.
Raised beds involve any box (bed) built with 4 walls and raised off the ground.
- Advantages - Easy of access. Ideal for wheelchair access. Minimizes bending. Minimizes weeding. Ability to import soil.
- Challenges - Difficult to set-up in the beginning. May require periodic replacement. Minimizes growing space by increasing pathways between beds.
Irrigation - For best results, irrigation should be installed before planting begins so that plants can be placed to maximize water uptake. How you install your irrigation lines will depend largely on your planting design.
Plot design is a personal choice and your design will depending largely on your needs, abilities, and ideals. Choose a design that provides adequate growing space, preserves the most water, keeps maintenance tasks to those you can handle, meets your individual ideals, and allows for the best ease of access for your unique needs. Then enjoy your beautiful creation!
- Farm Rows: Drip system with 1/2" poly line along the front or rear of the plot, with 1/4" driplines running down each row.
- Bed Rows: Main system with 1/2" poly line along each row of beds. Drip system with 1/4" driplines running down each row in the bed or overhead system with sprayers attached along each bed. Irrigation is easily modifiable from drip to spray and back.
- Creative Design: 1/4" soaker hose or 1/4" driplines snaked throughout the plot.
- Raised Beds: 1/4" black poly line navigated through the turns to arrive at each raised bed. Drip system with 1/4" driplines running down each row in the bed or overhead system with sprayers attached along each bed. Irrigation is easily modifiable from drip to spray and back.
Plot design is a personal choice and your design will depending largely on your needs, abilities, and ideals. Choose a design that provides adequate growing space, preserves the most water, keeps maintenance tasks to those you can handle, meets your individual ideals, and allows for the best ease of access for your unique needs. Then enjoy your beautiful creation!
Hali'imaile Community Garden is recognized as a tax exempt public charity under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).