Garden Drainage is Very Important For Raised Bed Gardens and Container Gardens

A good garden has places where water can drain away from the soil or growth medium. Drainage mostly applies to container gardens and raised garden beds. The amount of drainage versus the growing medium's ability to hold water are important ratios to consider when setting up a garden for a new plant. Some plants require a lot of moisture while others may need their containers to dry out in between waterings. The ratio the plant requires will determine the type of growing medium, the type of drip emitter to use, and how much to water the plant each day.

There are countless designs for containers featuring different types of drainage. Some containers have just a few large holes on the bottom. You would want to put some small rocks or hydroton clay pellets over these holes. Most gardeners cover the bottom of the container with rocks so soil will not drain out with the water. I like soil less lava rocks that can be used in hydroponic systems for a similar purpose. Some plastic containers also feature side drainage holes. It really depends on what you prefer.

There are also containers that promote high oxygen levels in the root zone. Containers such as net pots, net cups, and mesh pots have good drainage. The previously mentioned pots are great for ebb and flow systems. Good drainage is key to maximizing the oxygen in the root zone.

Some reasons drainage is important:

• TOO much water is bad for your plants.
• Do everything you can to prevent mold and mildew.
• Leaving water in the grow space can mean spills for indoor gardeners
• Bugs and pests love a little extra water potentially filled with nutrients or sugars.
• Roots filled with too much water are being suffocated because they are not receiving enough oxygen

Read the Introduction to Drip Systems to get acquainted with automatic watering. Do not let automatic irrigation translate into too much water for your plants! Know how much to water your plants!