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Dreaming of a Rural Garden? What You Need to Know
Types of gardensUsually, when we think of gardens, we think of rural gardens - an ideal spot out in the country where there’s plenty of land and sunshine to grow on. Maybe we picture a corn maze or pumpkin patch at Halloween. Perhaps you had a family member who lived on a farm or had a rural garden, or maybe you’ve grown one yourself.
Room to Grow
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. Just one pumpkin vine can take up a lot of room and might overtake a small garden. 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. Plan the right garden for you.
Upkeep of Rural Gardens
Larger rural gardens can 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.
The Neighbors
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.
Dealing with Wildlife
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.
Convenience
Going to the store can take a while when you live in the country. Planning is more important if a trip to the hardware store takes 45 minutes of driving time. However, that distance also gives the rural gardener a bit of motivation. More homegrown fresh vegetables mean fewer trips to the grocery store.
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, grow more plants and make your garden your own.
Written by Teresa Chandler
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