Wicking beds are a great way to grow fruits and vegetables especially if you are not able to water the plants constantly. This is also good for planting in drought or dry conditions where watering will not be frequent.
The main reason that people choose a wicking bed design is that it conserves water. Traditional plant beds have to be watered daily but with the built-in system you get in a wicking bed, you will not need to do this all the time. There is a reservoir located at the bottom of the plant bed that will be wicked up with the soil acting as the wick. The water will be pulled up when the plants need it only and this will reduce the need to water plants frequently. An ideal environment can be created for growing plants with a wicking bed and it allows nutrients and water to be distributed evenly throughout the soil. This can be very beneficial for plant health. And this can prevent the effects of over and under watering and ensure there is a consistent level of moisture in the soil.
There is a lot of maintenance required
When you have a garden and much of this includes frequent watering. But when you have the reservoir filled with water, the bed will water itself for up to about two weeks depending on the weather. So if you have a busy lifestyle or if you are planning to go away for a couple of days, you don’t need to worry about not watering it every day. There is also a lower level of monitoring required. So many different types of plants can be grown in a wicking bed whether it is fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs. You can find these in a variety of sizes and shapes depending on what your requirement is. And the benefit of wicking beds is that you can have it placed on different surfaces such as soil, decking and concrete. So if you are living in an apartment where you don’t have an actual garden, you can still have some wicking bed planter boxes in the balcony.
Because moisture is retained in the soil,
Soil erosion is prevented. The water that is drawn up from the reservoir is distributed evenly throughout the soil and this will help anchor the soil preventing it from being washed away when it comes to heavy rains. You can also use wicking bed in a variety of climates. These are extremely beneficial for hot and dry regions. There is a constant source of water given the reservoir underneath and this can be very helpful for plants that need a lot of water like cucumbers and tomatoes. And this is an ecofriendly way of gardening as the wicking beds can reduce water usage by up to about 50%. The growing season for plants can be extended when you use a wicking bed. And this is beneficial especially in cooler climates. Because there is a constant level of moisture in the soil, it is easier to maintain stable temperatures in the soil. You can also cover these beds with plastic to protect them from the cold.
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