Standards are set for many things in life, and that's not much different when it comes to garden beds. A standard bed is 1.20 meters wide. Of course, this isn't ideal for everyone, but it benefits the garden accessories industry.
What width should a garden bed be?
The optimal width of a garden bed depends on the type of bed and the height of the gardener. For vegetable beds, the width should be chosen so that the middle of the bed can be easily reached, while flower beds can vary and may use stepping stones to shorten larger distances.
For example, if you want to buy weed control fabric (€19.00 on Amazon), you can usually find it in stores in a width of 1.20 m. If your beds have different dimensions, you will have to laboriously cut the fleece to size. But that shouldn't stop you from choosing a bed width that you can comfortably maintain.
How wide should vegetable beds be?
Your height determines the optimal bed width in the vegetable garden. If several people are working in the garden, then focus on the person who does the most gardening or the smallest person. She should be able to work comfortably without straining or getting cramps.
To find the right measurement, squat on the ground and extend your working hand. Mark the point on the floor in front of you that you can easily reach. This is the later middle of the bed, where you want to work without any problems. Measure the distance between this point and your feet. Double this measurement and the result is the optimal bed width for you.
How wide should flower beds be?
Flower beds should also be easy to care for, but the width is not as important as in the vegetable garden. Here the appearance and selection of plants is usually more important than convenience. Curved lines and different bed widths appear looser and often more harmonious.
If you have planted ground cover or covered your bed with bark mulch, then you rarely have to enter it to pull weeds and it can be as wide as you like. You may want to lay some stepping stones so that you don't leave any marks when you enter and add some accents.
The most important things in brief:
- Vegetable beds: easily accessible to the center
- Flower beds: possibly shorten larger distances with stepping stones
- A cover with fleece is planned: 1, 20 m wide
Tip
More important than any norms and/or rules is that you can maintain your beds comfortably and without contortions.
