We just finished building eight 4'x4' square foot garden boxes after ripping out last year's hastily put together raised beds. One of our big mistakes last year was placing our beds too close together and making them four foot wide but only being able to work from one side (the other side was against a fence and inaccessible). I couldn't kneel between the beds to work in the garden and I don't have a four foot reach - lol.

Before we set our boxes in place this year, we measured what would be a comfortable width between boxes for me to kneel and move about and get our garden cart between the boxes. Ultimately, we decided we needed a minimum of 36 inches between the boxes.

There are many ways to design a garden layout to maximize your space. But, make it easy and fun to work in, not frustrating! Good luck!

If you are thinking about 1 1/2 ft between beds you really haven't done much reading. Even then I know most people read it and say naaw, I can get away with less, because I'm me.

I have tried many different widths between beds and will say again, "If you have the room, make your paths at least 4ft wide". No Less. I have tried many other widths but I like the ones 4ft apart the best.

Of course there are always exceptions - usually because of space limitations. But if you have the room, make your paths at least 4ft wide. If you don't have the room, consider adjusting the bed width to allow for the 4 ft walkway between beds on ALL sides.

Think about what you are growing and how much it will overhang into your walkway, oh it sure will. How is it harvested? What equipment will you need to get between the beds? When the plants are full grown? When you kneel down to work in the beds - how much room will YOU need? Add to that distance.

Ok now is where you say - "I can get away with less, because I'm me". Have fun!!

"Ok now is where you say - "I can get away with less, because I'm me". Have fun!!"

Heh.

I am wondering what equipment I might need to get between beds. Currently we don't have anything I would consider 'equipment' except some small gardening tools, a watering can, and a hoe. What equipment were you speaking of?

I do need enough room for me to sit on my stool - my husband bought me a small stool to sit on when I garden. It takes up less room than kneeling, but not by much.

Currently we have about 1 1/2 feet between rows, and that is working (for now - admittedly, this is our first year with a real garden). I expect we'll learn a good bit from how things go this year.

Four feet does sound like an awful lot, though. In traditional row gardening, you don't use nearly that much, right? I thought two or three feet was considered proper row spacing (depending on the crop). Is square foot gardening that much different that you need an extra 1 to 2 feet of working room? I wouldn't want to put down a more permanent bedding structure without really thinking it through first.

after playing with different path widths, i finally settled on 2 foot. that lets me get a wheel barrow between the beds, doesn't waste a lot of space and gives me room to maneuver. like most things in gardening, you find what works for you. certainly anything less than 18 inches would be awfully tight for me.

GO WITH 3FT AT LEAST. I went with 2ft last year and my beds are 1 ft high. I'm young and can bend pretty easly, but when you take into account your not kneeling over dirt mounds, but 2 pieces of wood or whatever your using, it's gets pretty tight to manuver around between those beds.

Trust me
Melissa

Mine are 3 feet apart, and I wouldn't move them one inch closer. A reel mower to cut between the boxes, one pass up, one pass down, and I'm done and haven't slung weed seed into my beds.

good points. if you have grass in between the beds, you sure want room to mow. i put down a weed barrier and pine needles instead of having grass.

Certainly you can make the walkways any size you choose. That is the wonderful thing about gardening. Make it fit YOU.

I prefer not to have grass growing right up to the sides of my beds, so I don't have to worry about it invading my beds. Or slugs hiding in the grass. But that is another whole topic.