Discovery Trail
A wicking bed is a garden with a water tank at the base:
- Designed so the water ‘wicks upwards’ into the soil, like a candle wick.
- These gardens are self-watering, great when you are not home.
- 60-80% less water used than conventional garden beds.
- There are commercial wicking beds on the market which are great, you can also learn how to make your own.
- An easy way to grow your own healthy, organic food at home.
How Do Wicking Beds Work? – Water Moves DOWN & UP!
Most gardens get watered from the top by natural rainfall or by human watering. This water moves DOWN through the soil, and some is held in the soil by the various particles in the soil. Excess water drains out of the soil. Then there is the movement of water UP via a process called CAPILLIARY ACTION. This happens in the small tubes inside plants but also happens in the small spaces between the various particles in the soil. In good organic soil, water will capillary up about 30 centimetres (maximum) from the source of water below. Therefore, the depth of soil in a wicking bed should be about 30cm.
The Key Principles of (Self-watering) Wicking Beds
- A ‘space’ to hold water
- A wicking ‘medium’ in the water holding space
- A direct inlet pipe to fill up the water space (PVC is useful for this)
- Optional – A water level indicator (dipstick) for the water tank
- An overflow pipe at the top of the water holding tank
- A separation layer between the water space/wick, and soil above, to keep water space free from soil. Must let water through and not rot over time
- Soil to approx./minimum depth of 30cm, above the water/wick
Note: Be careful not to allow soil into your wicking/water zone.
Get Started today!
One of the most satisfying and heart-warming things you can do in your life is to help your family stay healthy and feed them even a small amount of beautiful home-grown organic food. Waterwise gardens are an easy way to achieve that with minimal watering and maximum productivity! With some clever observation of your own garden space, to determine the areas with sunlight and warm little ‘pockets’ (microclimates), you will amaze yourself at what you can grow.
Come along to one of our Waterwise Wicking Garden bed Workshops to learn how to use and apply these principles.
Either build your own waterwise garden bed, convert an old container or bed into a waterwise wicking one, or how to set up a commercial option.
These useful videos on our website can help you begin you wicking bed journey.
Kimbriki acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
