website

How to Grow Flowers in Raised Metal Garden Beds

When choosing a new garden bed for your yard, think about it! Choosing a metal raised garden bed is an easy way to transform the look of your yard and add instant curb appeal to your home. Choose the right metal raised garden bed to ensure everyone can see your beautiful flowers from the street. You can grow a variety of plants in one garden bed. The following tips will help you easily select and arrange the perfect flower plants and keep them healthy throughout the season.

Choose the right location

Have you ever tried to lift a plant pot full of dirt? It's not easy. Plus, it's nearly impossible to move a garden bed without dumping all the soil. It's good for your plants...or bad for your back. Before you start planting flowers, it's important to decide where to place your garden bed. Take note of the amount of shade and sunlight your plants will get, and look for plants that will thrive in those conditions.

Choose the right filler material

Fill the bottom third of a raised metal garden bed with lightweight filler. Filler takes up space in your garden bed, so you don't have to fill your garden bed with expensive soil that your plants will never use. You can fill the bottom of your garden bed with a variety of materials, just make sure they're non-toxic and don't break down during the growing season. After filling the bottom of the garden bed with filler, cover the material with a piece of landscape fabric. Then, fill your garden bed with light potting soil and plant your flowers. Your plants will have all the soil they need without the extra weight. After spending so much time growing flowers, the last thing you want to do is dump soil from your garden bed to replace the soil, but every year you need to add new soil to keep your plants healthy. Don't worry, you don't have to dump a metal raised garden bed completely. Once a year, simply remove the top layer of old soil and replace it with new soil mixed with a slow-release fertilizer. Mix as much new soil into the old soil as possible without disturbing the plant's root system.

Choose the right plants

After you've decided where to place your garden bed, it's time to choose your plants. No matter which plants you choose, you must make sure they can grow in the location you choose. Check the plant labels in the greenhouse to determine how much sunlight each plant needs, and look for plants that match your growing conditions. You should also choose annuals or slow-growing plants, or your plants will grow into pots without your knowledge.

Do not overwater plants

Metal raised garden beds contain a lot of soil, so garden beds take longer to dry. The topsoil may appear dry, while the deeper soil remains moist. If your soil is too wet, it can't transport oxygen to the roots, which can stress the plant and make it more susceptible to disease. To determine if your plants need water, dig your fingers deep into the soil, all the way to your second knuckle. If the deeper soil layers feel dry, it's time to water the plants again. You should also pay attention to the weather. When the temperature is cooler, it takes more time for the water to evaporate from the metal raised garden bed, so you don't need to water the plants as often.