The Benefits and Challenges of Country Gardening and How to Make it Work

A rural country garden can be a dream for many gardeners. Perhaps after years of feeling limited in space, they look for an ideal spot out in the country where there’s plenty of sunshine and land to grow on. 

Maybe you picture a large country garden where you can grow a whole corn maze or pumpkin patch. Perhaps you had a family member who lived on a farm or had a rural garden, or maybe you’ve grown one yourself. Whatever the reason, gardeners often feel the pull to put down roots in a rural setting.

Rural gardens usually have the potential to be larger than the typical urban or suburban garden. The average plot of land is bigger, and houses are more spread out. It can be easier to plant and grow a garden on a larger scale. Where just one pumpkin vine might overtake a small garden, in a country garden, there can be room for a whole pumpkin patch. If you’re planting a vegetable garden, that extra land will allow you to grow more food.

Of course, rural gardens can be small, too. It all depends on your situation, your choice of garden spot, and what sort of garden you’re planning. With increased space, you can plan the best garden for you.

Rural gardeners usually have more privacy because their neighbors are farther away. Privacy can allow them some freedom to experiment with new crops or new layouts for the garden. Homeowners’ associations in the city or suburbia sometimes limit what and where you can grow. Whether you find this to be helpful or a nuisance largely depends on your personality.

Larger rural gardens can take more time. be more expensive and require more upkeep.

It’s more difficult to maintain good soil quality on a large expanse of land. Soil amendments and other expenses can add up when your garden is more spread out. On the other hand, composting is simpler with more space and fewer neighbors.

Rural gardeners often use more complicated and expensive equipment to maintain those larger plots, but that equipment does cut down on manual labor. A small tractor, tiller, or other equipment can seem indispensable in a rural garden but might be overkill in the suburbs or the city.

Speaking of neighbors, both rural and urban gardens attract non-human visitors. Any garden can be pollinator-friendly, but it might also attract pests and other animals. The rural wildlife in the country can be quite a bit larger (and hungrier!) than the local city squirrels and pigeons. Keeping deer out of your garden is the kind of challenge that most urban gardeners don’t have to contend with.

If you're looking for a country property, remember to consider what makes a great garden location. Consider sunlight and proximity to water sources. Try to avoid low-lying areas prone to flooding.

It's a good idea to get your soil tested to see where you're starting. From there, you will be able to make the appropriate amendments. 

One of the challenges of rural gardens is the increased number of pests. The larger pests, such as deer and rabbits, can be especially frustrating. You can read more about deer-proofing your garden, along with ways to keep rabbits out.

With a large garden space, a watering can or even a garden hose may not be enough. It's a good idea to install an efficient irrigation system that makes watering less work. You can also plan for drought conditions by using rain barrels to store water.   

Every gardener is different, but it can be easy to become overwhelmed by a large country garden. You can take your time and slowly grow into your space by starting with your favorites and adding each season. Eventually, you will have the flower farm or pumpkin patch of your dreams.  

If you’re in a rural setting with a great plot of land, consider yourself lucky! Have fun gardening and making the landscape your own. And if you’re a city dweller, you might find our article on urban gardening more useful. No matter who you are, or where you grow, you can create a garden that works for you.

Written by Teresa Chandler