Many people may think there is not much that can be grown in one square foot of space, but the products that do grow there can be of the highest quality and the easiest for which to care. Those that practice square foot gardening are those with limited space and limited time in caring for a plot of land, but want to have their own garden goods to eat or simply enjoy, which is the case with many flowers.

In most cases, square foot gardening begins by turning over an existing stretch of land and building a raised bed on top of it. Usually, several sections will be developed for square foot gardening, about four-feet wide and 12-feet or more long. This raised bed, typically about one foot deep, will then be divided into equal squares. Using twine to mark the separation will make the job of planning square foot gardening much easier.

Once of the aspects of square foot gardening is learning which plants work together at being good neighbors to help each other grow. For example, garlic seems to flourish when planted in the same square as a rose bush. The idea behind square foot gardening is to plant a different item in each square. Although some squares will hold, for instance a single tomato plant, another may hold up six or eight carrots.

Planning Is Key To Successful Garden

It will take some planning to properly lay out garden by the square foot and researching what plants can live together without fighting is important. Some plants have a root system that tends to take over adjacent areas while others are more willing to share the growth space. If vining beans are going to be planted as part of the square foot gardening effort, they will need a vertical space into which to grow so they do not try to take over the entire area.

Many flowers can be successfully planted in with vegetable plants while square foot gardening and can provide protection against unwanted visitors. Marigolds are know for their ability to scare off certain small animals that may want to feast on the growing plants.

One of the many advantages of square foot gardening is the ease with which they can be tended. Since the beds are raised slightly off the ground, there is no reason to spend a lot of time on the knees pulling weeds. All attention can be given from the outside of the garden and walking on the dirt should be extremely limited to only when necessary. With a four-foot maximum width, the inner plants should be reachable from the outside.