The stairstep arrangement is a form of vertical planting that lends itself especially well to small plants such as lettuce, spinach, and onions. Basically, stairsteps change a two-dimensional space into a three-dimensional one, usually with wooden bins in pyramid shapes. You can also use metal strips, small stone walls, bricks, or concrete blocks to hold the soil in place. As with raised beds, pay careful attention to watering of plants grown in such arrangements, as the soil dries out faster than in flat ground beds.

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