Making the Most of Your Garden Space
Intensive planting maximizes space in raised bed gardens by strategically grouping plants based on size and growth habits, leading to higher yields, fewer weeds, and a more productive, beautiful garden
1/13/20252 min read
Now you're ready to shop for plants and get growing. Give this method a try for your existing raised beds! Need some additional help? I create custom planting plans for your unique vegetable garden. Reach out today for more information!
Space in a raised bed kitchen garden is at a premium. One way to make the most of your space is to “ignore” the seed pack recommendations (which is really for inground gardens grown in rows…) and densely plant your vegetable garden. This method is called intensive planting. In this method, plants are placed based on their size and growth habit, allowing you to grow more in a smaller space. Trellises are used for vine crops to allow for vertical growing.
There are many benefits to intensive planting! The available soil space is utilized efficiently making this method ideal for small gardens. Dense planting also reduces weeds (our “favorite” garden chore), and helps to retain moisture in the garden. You can expect a more productive harvest and also expect a beautiful garden to spend time in. Tend and harvest regularly to keep plants productive and healthy.
So, how does it work? Let’s plan a 3’x3’ garden bed in 4 simple steps.
Draw your garden bed to scale.
Create a key and categorize your plants by size.
Create your plant layout.
Color in your layout based on your key.
