The layout of a vegetable garden is essential for determining the effectiveness of the planting. With this in mind, we're inclined to find inspiration from the best gardens around. Ina Garten's Hamptons vegetable plots are the perfect example.
Photos of the chef's vegetable garden show a grid layout. It features four square vegetable plots with gravel walkways. Slim beds run along the side of the fence trellises trail up the walls creating the perfect location for climbing plants. Privacy hedges add a green warmth and stylish design to the garden. A small birdbath grounds the entire thing.
If you are hoping to plan a garden like Ina's, experts say there are many benefits. Drew Swainston, Master Gardener and Content Editor at Homes & Gardens, explains: 'Having square or rectangular planting beds offers several advantages. You do not need to step on the soil when planting, weeding, or harvesting, which reduces compaction and retains a healthy structure. It also makes harvesting easier as you can access plants from all sides. Also, even on wet days, you can garden without getting muddy boots and leaving footprints everywhere.'
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It's the perfect layout for starting a vegetable garden. Drew explains: 'The plants in the garden are grown tightly together, which reduces the opportunities for weeds to establish. Reducing the amount of soil on show in a vegetable garden helps retain moisture in the ground and limit weeds, which compete with your crops for water and nutrients.'
Luckily, the beautiful layout of Ina's vegetable garden is easy to recreate. Drew advises: 'Growing aromatic herbs is great for companion planting in a vegetable garden, as the strong aroma they emit repels a wide variety of pests. Interplanting vegetables with herbs, or flowers such as marigolds, is a very efficient way to combat pests while also having a fragrant, beautiful space.'
For an extra aesthetic touch, he recommends: 'The use of taller evergreen cones and vertical fruit adds structure to the garden. Adding espalier fruit, climbing crops such as beans, statuesque plants like corn, or even growing squash or cucumbers vertically, adds structure and creates areas of protected shade to grow cooler-weather crops, like lettuce, spinach, arugula, or chard, during the summer.'
Though we tend to think of vegetable gardens as providing sustenance, they can also add a beautiful design to any backyard.
