Growing Space

This garden was a gift. Literally. Rooted Garden client, Julie, and her husband wanted to give something unique and long-lasting to each other for the 2017 holiday season. The garden that resulted truly is the gift that keeps on giving—and growing.

You might recognize this kitchen garden from my book, Kitchen Garden Revival. I love the beauty of these Corten raised beds and the lush edible jungle growing within them so much that I featured them throughout the book.

This is the perfect example of how a kitchen garden can be a productive and functional space while also being a beautiful reflection of the gardener's personality and taste.

If you like this design, check out nine of our other favorite kitchen garden layouts that we've ever created.

Garden Materials

Several materials came together perfectly to create this unique growing space.

borders and pathways

The metal edging of this garden matches the rich brown tones of the Corten raised beds. The gray gravel helps to differentiate the kitchen garden from the rest of the landscape. Gravel surfaces provide a clean and aesthetically pleasing garden space and prevent weeds from growing.

metal trellises

A signature design feature of any Rooted Garden or Gardenary garden is a metal trellis (or two... or three). The three arch trellises shown here marry the two beds and maximize the available growing space by allowing vining plants like cucumbers and tomatoes a space to grow up and over.

raised beds

These custom raised beds are made of Corten steel, a material that pulls all the warm richness from the fence to create a welcoming space filled with beautiful swiss chard and kale. (Discover why we love Corten steel for kitchen gardens.)

The half-moon shape of the beds then influenced the rest of the garden design, as we wanted both the border of the garden and the arc of the trellises to mirror the semi-circles.

The two raised beds allow for so much growing space without wasting any available square footage. The walkway through the middle is necessary to tend the garden from all sides, but it also provides a lush space that the gardener can step inside and feel like they're in their own little enclosure, away from the stresses of everyday life.

The height of these beds (two feet tall) makes for a comfortable experience in the garden while planting and tending.

soil

It's easy to look at incredible garden designs such as this one and forget about one of the most important aspects to the success of the plants growing and thriving here—the soil. These twin beds are filled all the way up with Rooted Garden's exclusive, organic blend of soil and compost, a growing medium formulated for peak results in the garden.

What's Planted and Growing Here

The real star of these beds are the jewel-tones stems and lush leaves of the swiss chard. A major factor in the success of these swiss chard plants and the equally large kale is the nutrient-dense organic soil they're growing in. They're also from a local source and grown without any synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers.

In Houston's warm seasons, cucumbers and tomatoes climb up the three arch trellises, and in the cool season (i.e., Houston's winter), the trellises are turned over to beans and peas.

Rosemary thrives in the beds year-round and drapes elegantly over the sides. Seasonal flowers add bright pops of color that mirror the jewel tones of the swiss chard.

Bay laurel trees grow at the back of this kitchen garden space. Bay laurel is a tropical herb that does well in Houston's warm climate. I had two beautiful bay laurels in my front yard flower beds when I lived in Houston.

Tips for Great Garden Design

The kitchen garden is more than just a place to grow fresh vegetables, flowers, and herbs. It is an opportunity for you to create an outdoor room that brings you joy, a quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts and nature. It might just become your favorite room in the house.

Here are a couple tips to help you accomplish a similar effect in your outdoor area.

TIP NUMBER ONE: WORK WITH SHAPES TO CREATE AN ENCLOSURE

The circular shapes work in harmony to create the sense of an enclosure. The symmetry of the two half moons is pleasing to the eye and makes you feel like you're entering somewhere special when you step into the garden.

TIP NUMBER TWO: WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL

Designing and planning a garden that fits your unique style can be intimidating. A Gardenary-certified consultant can help you maximize your growing space and create a beautiful and productive raised bed kitchen garden in your backyard. A consultant knows how to select the best location for your garden based on sun conditions, how to place your beds to increase available square footage, and how to design your garden to be an extension of your home, something that feels like it's always been there growing fresh food for your entire family to enjoy.

I hope this inspires you to finally bring that garden you've been dreaming about (no matter how big or small) into fruition this year!