Wicking beds are known for their self-watering properties and this makes it a very efficient watering solution no matter what kind of plants you are growing. And you can even use these in a limited space.
Water efficiency is the main reason so many people prefer to have a wicking bed.
When you use traditional gardening methods, a significant amount of water can go to waste because of runoff or evaporation. Also, not many people practice efficient watering which can result in overwatering. But because of the self-watering system in a wicking bed design, water will be delivered straight to the roots of the plant and this can cut down water loss due to evaporation by a significant margin. The plants can draw as much water as needed from the water reservoir at the bottom of the wicking bed. And this will help you save water. There is a steady supply of water to the plants because of this water reservoir and you will be able to maintain consistent moisture levels for the water. This will benefit plant health. When you use a wicking bed, you can avoid underwatering or overwatering your plants, both of which can affect the health of your plants. And you can reduce the stress on the plants because of consistent moisture levels as well.
If you have both in-ground plants and plants in a wicking bed,
You will note that plants tend to thrive in the latter solution. This is due to the consistent access plants have for nutrients and water. When these essentials are in consistent supply, plants are able to develop strong root systems which will further enable the plant to take in more nutrients. These planter beds can contribute to a high yield of fruits and vegetables. Another benefit of wicking beds is that they come with low maintenance. It can be tiring to water the garden every day which is what you have to look forward to when you don’t have wicking beds. But as you can have the water reservoir of the wicking beds filled, it will take care of providing moisture to the plants for a long time. You will have to experiment and find out how long it takes the reservoir to empty so that you know when to top it up. And this will make it easy for you when going away on a trip as the self-watering system can take care of maintenance.
It is quite common
For wicking beds to have fewer problems when it comes to weeds as the top layer of the soil is generally dry. And this creates an unfavourable environment for weed growth. You can further enhance this by mulching the top soil. There are so many gardening options you can try out with wicking beds. You can grow flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs. And there are larger wicking bed planters that can be used for small trees as well. And you can choose the size of containers you use so that you can fit them perfectly to your available space. And this will not stop you from creating a garden in a confined space such as an apartment.
