When it comes to raised garden beds, the ground surrounding them often gets overlooked. However, the area around your raised beds plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and productive garden. This space can be utilized to improve soil health, control weeds, and enhance the overall aesthetic of your garden. So, what should you put on the ground around your raised beds? Let’s explore some practical and eco-friendly options.
Before we dive into the details, it’s essential to understand that the ground around your raised beds should serve multiple purposes. It should suppress weeds, retain moisture, regulate temperature, and provide a welcoming environment for beneficial insects and organisms. With these goals in mind, let’s look at some suitable ground covers and mulches for around your raised beds.
Organic Ground Covers
Organic ground covers are an excellent choice for maintaining a healthy and sustainable garden. They help to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and improve soil health over time.
One popular organic ground cover is straw. Straw is an inexpensive, widely available, and eco-friendly option. It breaks down slowly, providing a consistent layer of protection and nutrient-rich material for your soil. However, it’s essential to ensure you’re using straw, not hay, as hay often contains seeds that can germinate and become weeds.
Straw
Straw is an excellent insulator, helping to regulate soil temperature and protect your plants’ roots from extreme heat and cold. It also provides a habitat for beneficial insects and organisms, promoting a healthy ecosystem in your garden.
To apply straw around your raised beds, spread a 3-4 inch layer on the ground, ensuring it extends a few inches away from the base of the beds. This will help to create a barrier that prevents weeds from growing and makes it easier to maintain your garden.
Wood Chips
Wood chips are another popular organic ground cover. They are particularly effective at suppressing weeds and regulating soil temperature. However, it’s crucial to use well-rotted wood chips, as fresh ones can rob nitrogen from the soil as they break down.
When applying wood chips, spread a 2-3 inch layer around your raised beds, ensuring they are a few inches away from the base to prevent rot and potential damage to the bed’s structure. Keep in mind that wood chips will break down over time, so you’ll need to replenish them periodically to maintain their effectiveness.
Living Ground Covers
Living ground covers are plants specifically chosen to grow around your raised beds, providing a low-maintenance, green alternative to organic mulches. These plants help to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and create a visually appealing garden.
When selecting living ground covers, opt for plants that are well-suited to your climate and require minimal care. They should also be shallow-rooted to avoid competing with your raised bed plants for nutrients and water.
Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a low-growing, fragrant herb that makes an excellent living ground cover. It thrives in well-draining soil and full sun, making it an ideal choice for gardens in warmer climates. Creeping thyme forms a dense mat that helps to suppress weeds and provides a habitat for beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
To plant creeping thyme around your raised beds, space the plants about 6-12 inches apart, depending on the variety, and water them regularly until they become established. Once established, creeping thyme is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care.
Lamium Maculatum
Lamium maculatum, also known as dead-nettle or spotted dead-nettle, is a shade-tolerant perennial that makes an attractive living ground cover. Its glossy, heart-shaped leaves and small, white or pink flowers provide visual interest while helping to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Plant lamium maculatum around your raised beds, spacing the plants about 12-18 inches apart. This living ground cover prefers partial shade and well-draining soil. Once established, it requires minimal care and can spread to form a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds.
Incorporating the right ground cover around your raised beds not only enhances the overall appearance of your garden but also promotes a healthy and productive growing environment. By choosing organic or living ground covers, you can create a sustainable and eco-friendly garden that requires minimal maintenance and supports a diverse range of plant and insect life. So, go ahead and transform the space around your raised beds into a thriving, weed-free oasis that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
