French beds: pros and cons and how to make such a garden with your own hands

The garden in the country can be divided into sections and arranged in the form of flower beds, you get French garden beds. They are suitable for planting vegetables and berries. They are fenced plots of land of various geometric shapes. They will have to be cultivated by hand. But instead of the usual garden in front of the house there will be flower beds of vegetables and berries. The main advantage is a beautiful appearance.

What are French beds

In a small country house, it is better to set up a garden in the form of a flower bed. A French garden is a fenced plot of land intended for growing vegetables and berries. It differs from the usual garden by the presence of a fence. The fence prevents the soil from being washed off the beds.

Ingredients of a French garden:

fenced area;
fertile soil mix;
paths (behind the fence).

Types of French beds:

raised (piled mounds);
single-level (flush);
tiered.

Outline (shape) of French beds:

rectangle;
diamond;
trapeze;
triangle;
circle or oval;
circle divided into segments;
winding ribbon;
polygon.

Used as a fence:

short shrubs (up to 20 cm);
border tape;
bricks;
wooden pegs;
boards;
garden border;
forged gratings;
decorative wattle.

French garden refers to the stationary type of structures. It is a fenced plot of land of a selected geometric shape. In appearance, it resembles a flower bed. You can build a garden bed by any improvised means. The main thing is to separate a small area with a fence. You will have to cultivate the land inside the fenced area manually.

Pros and cons

Dignity:

beautiful appearance;
can be used for landscape decoration;
fencing prevents soil and nutrients from being washed off the beds;
convenient to care for, harvest;
all plants in plain sight.

Cons:

cultivating the land will have to be done manually;
labor-intensive technology.

Design Examples

French beds are enclosed plots of land that are round, rectangular, trapezoidal, or other geometric shapes. Such sites can be arranged in random order or in the form of an ornament. Paths are being built between French beds.

Design examples:

In the form of a circle divided into segments. In the center of the large circle is a small circle, inside it is a statue or a garden figurine. The big circle is divided into several segments. There are paths from the center, fenced areas between them.
In the form of a square divided into four parts. The large square is divided into 4 parts. Between the fenced rectangular areas - paths.
In the form of a multi-level (stepped) structure. The slope of the mountain is divided into several tiers. Each tier has its own fence. The shape of each bed is in the form of a tape encircling the slope.

Required tools and materials

The main component of the French garden is a fertile soil mixture. The land is prepared independently. The components of the earth mixture are taken in certain proportions. Land for growing agricultural crops must be loose and fertile.

Composition of the soil mixture:

¼ sod, meadow or garden land;
¼ sand;
¼ peat;
¼ clay or loamy soil;
sawdust, bark, chopped straw;
manure;
lime;
ashes;
complex of mineral fertilizers;
fungicides, insecticides.

French garden tool list:

shovel;
level;
forks;
hoes, boots;
rake;
hoe-baking powder (cultivator).

The fence is built from available materials (boards, garden borders). Paths are made of rubble, paving stones, tiles. The choice of material depends on the desire and financial capabilities of the summer resident.

How to make a French garden with your own hands

First, it is recommended to draw a sketch on paper. To do this, take a piece of paper and draw all the structures located in the summer cottage. Free places are allocated for French beds. The shape of the fenced area is selected depending on the dominant style or arbitrary.

French garden instructions:

determine the shape (circle, square) and view (flush or mound);
find a suitable place and clear away debris, weeds;
make a markup for the fence;
remove the top layer of earth inside the site (for 1-2 shovel bayonet);
pour fertilized soil mixture;
install fence;
make tracks.

For the construction of raised beds you need a box. You can make it from boards or plastic plates. The soil is removed by 30 cm. A metal mesh is installed at the bottom to protect against rodents.First, drainage is poured from crushed stone, on top - fertilized soil mixture. The height of the structure is 20-50 cm. The box should frame a mound of earth.

Tips:

a well-lit area protected from the wind is taken under the garden;
perennials are planted separately from annuals;
if the site has a slope, then the plants are planted horizontally so that the water does not drain, but lingers;
on the south side it is better to plant heat-loving crops (eggplants, tomatoes);
greens are planted on the north side;
optimal bed width - 40-50 cm (convenient for weeding, harvesting);
path width - not less than 50 cm (for a garden wheelbarrow to pass freely).

What is better to plant in them

Plants are planted in a row, in the form of a spiral or arcuate. In one fenced area, you can create a beautiful composition of different varieties and types of vegetables. In practice, low-growing plants (lettuces) are planted near the curb, tall plants (onions, tomatoes) are planted behind them.

What crops are suitable for a French garden:

different types of lettuce;
cabbage;
sorrel;
marigolds (to repel pests);
parsley, dill, fennel;
carrot;
onion, garlic;
beets;
potato;
beans, peas;
cucumbers, tomatoes.

When planting plants pay attention to their color and appearance.Vegetables are planted so that during the growing season a multi-colored composition is created. Leaf salads of different colors and different varieties of cabbage are beautifully combined. Only one type of vegetable can be planted in each fenced area.