Start a Community Garden
Paths, Fences, and Irrigation
Paths and Walkways
When designing your garden, include paths between beds and around the perimeter of the garden. Paths between beds are usually 24-30 inches wide, but a 4 ft. minimum is necessary for the beds to be wheelchair-accessible or if the paths are to be maintained using a riding lawnmower. Some options for constructing the paths are mulch or mulch on top of cardboard. Note that any thick mulch (such as woodchips) in paths will break down and grow weeds within a few months. Mulches also raise the height of the path slightly, decreasing the drainage originally created by paths, and they make it harder to weed the cracks between blocks.
One suggestion to avoid these problems is to use use a layer of cardboard topped with leaves in the paths. For the Houston climate, lawnmowing and edging is the best approach unless your garden is small and you can keep up with the weeding of a mulched path.
Fencing
A fence with a locked gate is sometimes an essential
component of your community garden. A fence informs others that the food
cannot be picked at will, keeps dogs out, and may also prevent other animal
pests. If you are in a rural location, special fences may be required to
keep out rabbits, raccoons, goats, cows or deer. If fencing to keep out
people and dogs is all that is required, a 4 ft. Cyclone™ or chain
link fence may prove adequate. In some settings, 6 ft. will be necessary.
Fruits may need a 10 ft height.
Water Connection and Irrigation
All gardens need supplemental watering on occasion. Soaker hoses should
be installed before you plant your garden. Your options include:
- Hose with fan nozzle attachment - the cheapest option. Adequate for just a few plants, but very time consuming for a large garden. A hose with a nozzle can be left on low and set on top of one area of the beds, and moved every 10-15 minutes to water various parts of the beds.
- Sprinklers - often waters unevenly and water outside of the garden, encouraging weeds and wasting water. Also, gets the leaves wet, encouraging molds to grow.
- Soaker hoses - the best choice for healthy plants, water conservation, and ease of use, but also more expensive. Soaker hose systems can be purchased at hardware and gardening stores.
There must be water at the site of your community garden. If taps are not close by, you may be able to connect to an outside tap on a nearby building or a well. You will need to find someone experience in plumbing to extend a pipe and tap for you. If you must use water from the street, you need to get the water company's connection charges. Give them an accurate address.
If you have more than 5 beds or will be away a lot, you need a soaker hose system with an electronic timer. Timers also allow for plants to be watered in the morning hours, which is the best time to water. Timers are available at hardware stores and garden shops.
A wet area may need ditches or ponds for additional drainage. Contact Ron Jones at US Fisheries and Wildlife 281-286-8282 for information.
