Homestead Dreams, Berry Bush Reality
One of the first things we wanted to do after moving into our home was start a garden and set up a spot for beehives. About nine months in, we finally started building our raised beds, threw up a makeshift fence, and ordered two hives — taking the first real steps toward our dream of becoming homesteaders.
The first two years of gardening were really just us getting our feet wet. Not long after we started, we realized we were going to need a real fence. Let’s be honest — to the deer, our garden looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
(Tip: If you’re gardening in a rural area, investing in a sturdy fence can save you years of frustration. Deer, rabbits, and even groundhogs can wipe out your harvest overnight.)
So, in our third year, we put up a sturdier fence. That same year, we planted our first raspberry and blackberry bushes.
Little did we know — or maybe it was just me being overly ambitious — I stuck those bushes straight into the ground.
(Lesson learned: Berry bushes need well-draining, fertile soil. If you’re working with heavy clay or rocky soil like we are, take the time to amend it or plant in raised beds.)
Unfortunately, our soil is full of clay and rocks and needs some serious help. (Which is why we chose raised beds in the first place!) So, as you can guess, those poor raspberry bushes didn’t make it that first year.
And then, wouldn’t you know it, I tried the same thing again last year — thinking maybe this time it would work. By the end of the summer, those berry bushes looked pretty pitiful, and I really didn’t think they’d make it through winter.
But lo and behold — they survived!
This spring, my husband suggested putting galvanized steel raised beds around the berry bushes. Not only would it help with the soil, but it would also make mowing around them so much easier.
(Tip: Galvanized raised beds are a great option for perennials like berries. They’re long-lasting, neat-looking, and can warm up faster in spring — which gives your plants a little head start.)
After checking Lowe’s, Rural King, and Walmart, we ended up finding a two-pack of round galvanized beds on Amazon — two feet in diameter, which was perfect for our small berry bushes.
I assembled the beds, placed them over the existing bushes, and filled them up with gardening soil and mushroom manure.
(Quick tip: Mushroom manure is a great organic option for improving poor soil — it adds nutrients and helps with moisture retention.)
With that task checked off, I added one more berry bush to the garden — and this time, I didn’t plant it straight in the ground. I tucked it right into that rich, amended soil instead.
Want to try it yourself?
Here’s what I’d recommend if you’re just getting started with berry bushes:
- Choose a sunny spot (they love full sun).
- If your soil is clay-heavy or rocky, go with raised beds or dig a deeper hole and amend with compost, peat moss, and sand.
- Use mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Be patient — the first couple of years are about establishing roots. The fruit comes later!
