Almost every gardener has a strawberry garden on his site. The berry is delicious, and in order for its harvest to be good, one should not only choose the right variety, but also organize the correct planting and further care of the bushes. One way is to build pyramids. It is suitable for small backyards, helps to speed up the ripening period of strawberries by almost a week, and decorates the garden unusually.
What is a strawberry pyramid?
These are vertical beds made in various configurations in the form of shelves made of metal or wood... You can use car tires, pipes, plastic bottles, flower pots, etc.
They arrange such pyramids in greenhouse conditions and on unprotected ground. There are craftsmen who manage to place a garden bed of this shape even on the balcony.
Advantages and disadvantages of growing
This option for planting strawberries makes it possible to use the beds more efficiently, save time and labor when growing, and improve yields.
The latter conditions are considered indisputable merits. Strawberry bushes planted in this way are arranged one above the other, not taking up much space.
Yield can increase fivefold, when compared with conventional landings. In order for the strawberry bush to develop well and give a crop, it needs free space up to thirty centimeters high. This method greatly facilitates the care associated with the removal of whiskers, watering, the introduction of fertilizing compositions, harvesting.
The necessary event is almost completely excluded to remove weeds... Costs associated with watering, fertilizing and spraying against harmful parasites are saved. The berries do not come into contact with the soil, they always remain clean. They are clearly visible when harvesting.
Another positive side of this method is that strawberry plantings are not susceptible to gray mold disease, the root system is not threatened by moles and other pests.
How to make a pyramid for strawberries with your own hands
There are several ways to make a pyramid with your own hands for growing strawberries. But the first stage is drawing up a drawing flower beds step by step.
In addition, certain tools will be required:
- a hammer;
- Rabitz;
- nails;
- PVC pipe or asbestos.
Material selection and manufacturing
If we use boards, then they can be pre-processed with a plane. Now it follows from the chain-link to make the base. A box of boards, which is the first tier, is installed on the grid, and the soil composition is poured.
It is recommended to arrange the height of the tiers the same, so that the garden bed turns out to be convenient to use and presentable in appearance.
The central part should be install pipeby arranging holes for watering in it. After fixing the pipe, compost is laid out on the soil layer.
By the same principle, the remaining tiers are installed, the size of which is gradually decreasing.
You can make a round strawberry pyramid using old car tires of different diameters... For the lower level, a wheel from a heavy vehicle is best suited, the following levels are gradually reduced. The width of the soil layers should allow the planting of berry bushes.
To equip such a bed, you should clear the place, prepare a hole in the diameter of a large tire. Its depth should be equal half wheel height... The top of the tire is trimmed. At the bottom, drainage is arranged from a two-centimeter layer of expanded clay, and the soil composition is filled up.
Other tiers are arranged according to the same principle. To prevent a pyramid made of such material from collapsing from the effects of heavy rains, its height should not exceed one and a half meters.
Fans of creative solutions are offered several ways to not only save space in the garden, but also to decorate it. In such cases, for manufacturing, you can use barrels and pipes of various diameters, cut into rings.
Wooden option can be made from boxes, which are installed on top of each other and fixed according to the same principle as a pyramid of boards.
Use and plastic bottlesattached to a wall or pipe with ropes. One bush is planted in each container. Bottles can be replaced with plastic bags. On the sides, you can make cuts in which to plant strawberry bushes.
Fit and flower potsmounted on stands or fixed on trellises.
Choosing a location for installation
When designing, it is necessary to take into account that one of its sides is directed strictly to the north.
In addition, it is necessary maintain horizontal, if the site for installing a flower bed is planned to be located on a slope. Weed vegetation must be removed, it is better not to dig up the earth - strawberries will need structured soil. If the pyramid is planned on the former beds, the soil must be fertilized with humus or compost.
Recommended under the base lay the nettingto protect the pyramid from moles. When installing each tier, they are fastened, the soil composition prepared for planting is filled in.
Watering and caring for the garden
Berry cultivation does not require any special care. It is necessary to water, remove weeds and whiskers, not allowing them to take root.
For watering, you will need a container and a hose.
It is better if the sleeve is perforated so as not to arrange holes yourself. One end of the hose, laid along the pyramid with a snake, is muffled, the other is connected to the container in which the water intended for irrigation is located.
When arranging strawberry pyramids, you can use various materials. But if you plan to use such a structure for several years, then you should do it durable and reliable... The height is determined taking into account the convenience of care and harvesting.
For the winter time, the pyramid is recommended cover with plastic wrap, which will increase the fruiting period of the berry.