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A keyhole garden is a fantastical way togrow your favorite crops , store your knees and back , and compost at the same time ! Unlike a traditional raised bed garden , a keyhole garden looks like a pie with a slice take out . basically , a keyhole garden is built around a compost basket that you’re able to use tomake your own compost . The mid - point cutout help you get at the compost basket and the raised bed without walking across your flower and crop .
The keyhole garden ’s shape is n’t the only reasonableness it ’s so democratic , it has many benefits . Elevate your gardening science and explore the benefits by creating your own with just a few elementary dance step .
Benefits of a Raised Bed Keyhole Garden
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A raised layer keyhole garden is an excellent alternative totraditional raised bed gardens . They ’re easy to fit in any space and are a hard-nosed solution for awkward backyard layouts . If you ’re used to attain your own compost , a keyhole garden will deliver you frequent trip between your compost bin and your raised bed garden .
This is because a keyhole garden is built around a composting basket that allow for nutrients to your plants as it decomposes . Apart from being capable to fit in tight spaces and awkward backyard layout , keyhole gardening can :
How to Create a Raised Bed Keyhole Garden
If you ’re inspired , here ’s a step - by - pace on how to make your ownraised bed keyhole garden .
you could use bricks , stones , galvanized steel , clinker pulley , untreated wood , and pallets to DIY your own keyhole garden . If DIYing is n’t an option , you’re able to considerbuying a outfit onlinethat you’re able to set up using the instructions that come along with the kit .
Although many keyhole gardens are circular , you’re able to build one that ’s square or even rectangular , depending on the uncommitted space in your garden . Just ensure you have a pathway to the centre compost .
Step 1: Pick a Location, Level and Mark It
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Pick a spot where your keyhole garden layer welcome at least six hours of direct sunlight , partial shade , and good air circulation . Also , ensure the raised bottom is tight to a piss source . If it is n’t , it would be difficult to control water output when you ’re water your plants , especially if the water reservoir is far from the raised bottom . Faster and easier water rootage access will also keep you move .
After picking your location , level it as much as potential and mark it out . score help you train and sympathize how big you desire your keyhole garden to be . It acts as a road single-valued function to avail you lay your foundation .
Regarding the size of it , most keyhole gardens are between 4 and 6 foot broad . Although , you may spay these measurement reckon on the available space you have in your backyard .
Step 2: Create the Composting Bin
In the center of the opening night , you ’ll put your composting bank identification number made from telegram mesh or chicken wire . Ensure the compost bank identification number is at least a foot high-pitched than the retain rampart and a foot deeper than the stem of the keyhole garden .
This will help enrich soil at all depths of the raise seam . In the image above , the compost bin is a cylinder , but you may make square - shaped I too .
Step 3: Build the Retaining Wall
Whenbuilding retaining rampart , there are somematerials you should never use , like railway ties , regale wood , or styrofoam . Galvanized steel , bricks , and untreated forest are good raised garden bottom materials for build your keyhole garden .
Your keyhole garden can be anywhere from 12 in to 4 feet in height . Ideally , the summit will look on the height the basal gardener experience comfortable working with . It should be well high and easy to sit down upon , so the gardener does n’t have to bend too much to preserve , weed , water , or plant crops .
From the image above , you could see how well-off it is to enter the composting field goal while lean to your plants .
Step 4: Layer Your Keyhole Garden
Before you add together soil , layer your keyhole raise bedwith twigs , pottery shards , and rock music or gravel toaid drainage . Then tot a layer of leaves , old paper , forest ash , and grass clippings . This will make a inflexible base for your garden , like to the operation oflasagna gardening .
Ensure you do n’t bestow anything inorganic , synthetic , or othermaterials that wo n’t disintegrate , like rubber , charge card , glass , and batteries .
Step 5: Add Compost and Topsoil
After layering with browns and greens ( sprig , grass leaves , newspaper ) , addwell - drain soilto your keyhole garden . You canmake your own organic soilfor your garden if you take or head to the glasshouse and buy some . Test your grime ’s pHand assure it ’s between 6.0 and 6.8 for healthy works increase .
stratum the soil so it slopes away from the snapper composting bin towards the edge of the retaining wall . This will avail keep piddle and reduce the need for frequent watering . Nowadd constitutional matterlike paper , eatage trim , kitchen fighting , and fallen leaves to the compost bin in the center and soak it with water .
you may add a layer oftopsoil to your compostto aid speed up the chemical decomposition reaction unconscious process , improve your compost ’s grain , and reduce odor .
Step 6: Plant Your Keyhole Garden
Now it ’s time to choose the right flora based on your USDA planting zone , sun exposure , and grunge requirements . Your climatic conditions will importantly affect the kind of plants you select to grow .
For example , pepper and Lycopersicon esculentum plants are sensitive to frost , so if you raise them in your keyhole garden , you ’ll need tomove them indoors during winter . Also , keep your plant’slight requirementsin mind when selecting plants for your garden . at last , understand their soil necessary and the idealistic pH to aid them expand .
Tips to Remember
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While you watch your garden tucket , there are a few bakshish to keep in nous to make the most of your keyhole garden :
Grow Get ‘Em!
A keyhole garden raised seam is a fantastic way to grow your own food for thought and compost , all without stressing your back and knees . Keyhole gardens are bully for awkward backyard layout and little space and for gardener who make their own compost . This layout will also encourage those who do n’t make compost to come out jam !
allow your experiences , thoughts , and head in the remark surgical incision ! And share with friends and family line who might find this helpful .
Happy gardening !
