There are so many innovative ways to garden that even somebody without a green thumb will be able to successfully grow vegetables, fruits, flowering plants etc. In this article, we will be explaining what can go wrong when you build a wicking bed. Wicking beds are a great way to create a garden as these are self-watering systems. However, you will need to look after its maintenance to ensure that the plants receive sufficient nutrition and water.

You can refer to many online resources on how to make a wicking garden bed. A key aspect you need to know when building a wicking garden bed is proper drainage. There is a water reservoir at the bottom of the garden bed and this should have an outlet to remove any excess water from it. And if you don’t have proper drainage, this can lead to the plants becoming waterlogged. In this situation, the plants can have root rot and their health can decline. So make sure to design a drainage outlet so that excess water doesn’t stay inside the wicking garden bed. There is also a layering order that you have to follow. There is a water reservoir at the bottom which is followed by a wicking medium and then a planting mix. If this order of layering goes wrong, the wicking garden bed will not work. By ensuring this order, you can ensure that the water is carried up to the roots of the plants.

Make sure to select the right wicking medium as well.

Some materials will not have adequate capillary action and this will prevent the roots from getting enough water. You should not be using coarse gravel or stones for the medium as this will not help distribute water properly. Some of the materials you should consider for this are coir, scoria or perlite. The depth of water should also be determined at the beginning. If the water reservoir is too shallow, you will need to fill it frequently and this will take the convenience out of a wicking garden bed. You need to make sure that the depth of the reservoir is such as that the plants can be watered for a longer period without your intervention. This will ensure a low maintenance garden.

You have to be careful about what you plant and how you plant.

If there are too many plants, this contributes to overcrowding and then a competition will be created for nutrients and water. When selecting plants for the wicking garden bed, you need to check whether they have the same water requirements. Sometimes when the water requirements vary, there will be uneven distribution of water in the soil. For optimal function of a wicking garden bed, you need to choose plants with similar water requirements. Consider the space between plants as well. If they are too close together, the ability to absorb water and nutrients is hampered and this will also reduce air circulation. This can also give rise to spread of diseases and stunt the growth of plants. You can look for plant spacing guidelines online to follow.