How to Make a Wicking Bed

So here is the details on how to make an underground wicking bed. I made mine 8' long x 14" deep x 3' wide.

Materials

• 10' of Drainpipe
• 2 PVC Endcaps
• 1 PVC/ABS Elbow and 1' length of pipe to fit
• ABS/PVC Glue
• Gravel (the bigger, the better)
• Plastic Dropcloth
• Landscaping Fabric
• Shovel
• Rake
• Compost
• Mulch

Steps

1. Put down a layer of compost about 1/4-1 in deep over bed area
2. Take out any invasive plants (weeds, groundcover, ect)
3. Dig a really big hole (8' long x 14" deep x 3' wide)
4. Make sure the ground is level on the bottom for even water flow
5. Fit elbow and 1' length of pipe to end of drainpipe
6. Cut drainpipe to fit and glue endcap on
7. Put down plastic dropcloth
8. Put down landscaping fabric to prevent gravel from tearing holes in dropcloth
9. Add gravel until drainpipe is covered
10.  Put down lanscaping fabric

11. Fill with dirt that you have dug up

12. Rake and cover with compost layer

13. Cover with mulch layer and rake smooth

     Below are some pictures of me planting my raspberries (my grandmother's favorite) in my self irrigating pots. Next to the raspberries are grapes and a mini dwarf pomegranite that piqued my interest at the nursery. To the right is my first planted fruit tree! It is a semi-dwarf navel orange tree, and it already has blooms, so I can't wait to see what it does this year! I also planted some blueberries along the back fence, which I'm sure there will be pictures of soon. Also, I found 5 little ripe strawberries from a plant that we've been growing since last year. What a surprise!