I'm really excited to start a vegetable and flower garden in my decent-sized backyard, but I've got some concerns. My yard shares a fence line with several neighbors, and I suspect some of them are using Roundup, which worries me about chemical runoff. Plus, my yard is on a bit of a slope; after heavy rains, I notice water pooling on one side, likely bringing in runoff from the street and surrounding yards. Even though my garden beds are raised about a foot high, I'm considering additional measures to minimize any harmful chemicals getting into my plants. I'm also looking for tips on organic gardening practices and recommendations for quality soil and seeds since I'm new to this whole gardening thing.
2 Answers
Roundup can refer to several different chemicals. You might want to talk to your neighbors to see what they’re using—it could be something else that’s worse. But if they’re using glyphosate, it’s becoming harder to find. If you're really worried, consider putting down a protective layer under your raised beds; using mesh or something similar for drainage could help, alongside making sure they are properly elevated to minimize direct runoff exposure.
You’ve got to be careful about runoff! If you're getting water from the street, it’s not just Roundup that could come in—things like oil and asphalt can mix in too. Luckily, since your plants are in raised beds, they should be mostly safe from Roundup since it doesn't typically get absorbed through the roots well. Just make sure the runoff doesn’t keep pooling in your garden area; you may want to redirect that water if possible!
That’s such a relief to hear! I plan to put the garden on the higher side of my yard to avoid that pooling. Once I get the drain fixed, I hope it’ll help manage the water better.
Thanks for that tip! I will see about adding some kind of mesh to keep things safe in the beds while still allowing for drainage.