Guide to Garden Rows: How to Plant Garden Rows

Planting your crops in garden rows is a gardening method that involves sowing them in straight lines in raised or flat soil beds to help them grow better. Garden rows resemble long low hills of soil in straight rows and are formed when you till your soil and add mulch, compost, or straw. Garden rows are commonly used in vegetable gardening because they organize your vegetables and make them easily accessible for harvesting.

Some of the benefits of planting your crops in row garden beds include: keeping your plants’ root systems evenly-spaced, efficient irrigation, ease with weeding, improved drainage, improved soil quality, better air circulation, and better access to sunlight.

Garden rows have a number of benefits for your plants if you choose to adopt this soil structure for your flat or raised garden bed. Here are some of the reasons why you should use garden rows in your gardening.

• They support root growth. Raised garden rows provide plants with a deeper amount of soil to develop a strong root system. These rows can also keep your plants’ intricate root systems evenly spaced, preventing any root obstruction that might impede growth.
• They keep weeds out. Using mulch or straw to protect your garden rows helps to keep your garden free from weeds and other invasive plant species.
• They keep your garden organized. Raised garden rows can help keep your plants organized, especially when you’re planting a vegetable garden. Planting in wide rows makes your veggies more accessible for you to water, weed, or harvest.
• They improve irrigation. Tilling and sloping the soil for your garden rows promotes healthy soil and makes it easier to hydrate your plants without over-watering them, which can lead to root rot.
• They provide better air circulation and access to sunlight. Raised garden rows that require a little bit of extra soil above ground level can improve the air circulation in your garden and give your plants better access to sunlight.

Follow these simple steps for making your own DIY garden rows.

• Prepare the soil. Choose a location in your garden where you want to plant your garden rows. Consider access to sun and shade nearby, and tailor your location to your plant’s specific needs. If you want to plant a raised bed, you will need to add soil to your rows to create little mounds in the garden. You can make flat beds using the soil that is already in your garden. Till the garden soil with a small trowel to loosen it and remove any weeds or existing plants.
• Mark the rows. Using a ruler or tape measure, mark the line that you want your garden row to follow noting your desired distance in between each plant. If you’re planting a vegetable garden, consult your seed packet to see how much row spacing each of your plants requires. Mark the end of each row with a stake and tie a string between them to mark the row.
• Dig the rows. Dig the space between your marked rows using a trowel or shovel, creating a ridge or small hill of soil under each row of string. These hills will act as your garden rows.
• Plant your seeds. You’re ready to plant your seeds evenly along the rows now that you’ve marked where you want them to go. For vegetable gardens, place small garden signs to indicate where your vegetables or herbs are planted. Water your seeds immediately after you plant them.
• Plant cover crops in winter. If you live in a climate with cold winters, your garden row crops will die off during the frosty season. Protect the roots of your garden for next year’s growing season by adding some extra mulch over your plants’ root systems.

Raised garden rows are constructed in a raised bed or container that is filled with soil above the ground level for plating. Garden rows in flat beds are planted at ground level with the existing soil in the area. Here’s how the two compare to one another in a number of horticultural factors.

• Soil drainage: Raised row gardening offers better soil drainage and soil quality than standard flat garden rows because the soil will remain loose for longer and excess moisture has more room to diffuse in the soil.
• Labor and cost: Raised bed gardening can be both labor-intensive and costly while flat garden rows involve less work to build.
• Weeds and soil contamination: Raised garden rows are better for preventing soil contamination and will involve less weeding because the elevated garden keeps your soil contained.
• Garden space: Raised garden rows require a large garden area because they will likely require access to walk through the rows to access all of your plants. For those with smaller gardens, flat garden rows are a great option for people who have limited space in their home gardens.

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