Wicking beds have a lot of advantages over standard raised beds.
They are water-efficient! Watering from the bottom up prevents evaporation of surface water (which occurs when you water beds from the top).
They are self-watering! ...
Wicking beds are an especially great system to use in community gardens because they save people from driving every day during hot weeks to water their beds.
A full wicking bed should irrigate itself for about a week.
No evaporation means no salting of soil. If you are watering your soils from the top with hard water, you risk accumulating salts, because the water evaporates and leaves the minerals behind. Eventually your soil will struggle to support plant life.
They provide a lot of drainage in the event of a large downpour.
They are water-efficient! Watering from the bottom up prevents evaporation of surface water (which occurs when you water beds from the top).
They are self-watering! ...
Wicking beds are an especially great system to use in community gardens because they save people from driving every day during hot weeks to water their beds.
A full wicking bed should irrigate itself for about a week.
No evaporation means no salting of soil. If you are watering your soils from the top with hard water, you risk accumulating salts, because the water evaporates and leaves the minerals behind. Eventually your soil will struggle to support plant life.
They provide a lot of drainage in the event of a large downpour.