In-ground gardening

Benefits of In-Ground Gardening

In-ground gardening is the process of planting crops or flowers directly into the ground soil. It is the cheapest method of starting a garden. No additional building is required which means savings can be used to make necessary amendments to existing soil or to purchase required gardening equipment. Less watering of plants is also needed as the ground soil does not dry out as quickly as it does in raised beds or container gardens. A significant advantage of using the soil which is already available is that it is naturally insulated. It already contains all of the natural organisms which keep the soil well fertilized and provide nutrients for the plants.

Starting an In-Ground Garden

If you have a small plot of land in your back or front yard you can easily start an in-ground garden at home. Here are some easy-to-follow steps on how to get started on your planting your food directly in the ground.

Step 1

Choose your location. Select a location that provides at least six to eight hours of sunlight, drains well and is close to a water source. (Watch the video on this page for more information). Be sure to consider the amount of space you will need for the plants that you have chosen for your garden. A method to test the level of drainage of your soil is to dig a hole one foot deep in the bed where you will be planting. Fill the hole with water and let it drain. Refill the hole with water and measure the amount of water that drains into the soil within one hour. A good drainage rate is between one to six inches of water.

Step 2

Determine the layout of your garden. Create a layout plan that shows where each crop will be planted. Divide the space into beds and rows and ensure that you space out your crops adequately so that they have enough room to grow.

Step 3

Remove any existing vegetation. Use a sharp spade or smother the area with black plastic, cardboard or newspaper to remove the lawn. Smothering the area will take several months before the grass is fully removed. However, using a spade to remove the grass or debris is the quickest method of removal. If using cardboard or newspaper you can cover the materials with compost, mulch or grass clippings to hold the layers in place while keeping in moisture and adding organic matter to the soil. If using cardboard use plain cardboard without lamination or colour and use only black-and-white newspaper as coloured ink can contain heavy metals. Also wet the newspaper or cardboard frequently to keep layers in place and speed up decomposition rates.

Step 4

Once your area is clear it is time to prepare the soil for planting. If organic matter has been added to the soil already by using the smothering method with cardboard or newspaper to kill the lawn then you can skip this step. Add a layer of compost to your soil and mix it in with the layer of topsoil where your bed will be planted.

Step 5

Plant your garden according to your layout plan. If you are planting directly from seed follow the directions on the seed packet to plant directly into the ground. If you are planting seedlings dig holes and place your plants in them at the correct depth and spacing. Fill in the holes around your plant's roots and press down the soil around the base of the plant to keep it in place. Water the plants well. Water the soil around the plants and not the leaves to avoid contaminating the plants and spreading diseases. Add mulch around the plants to retain moisture and help keep weeds at bay.

Challenges

In-ground gardens are one of the simplest methods of gardening making ready use of what is already available. However, like with all other forms of gardening it has its challenges. General maintenance of the garden takes more effort than with other forms of gardening as in-ground gardens tend to produce more weeds and pests.

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