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Re: New gardener

Hi Molly,

Well, if I had to choose between a pond with water lilies and a veggie
garden, the water lilies and pond would win. (Sorry folks, but I am REALLY
crazy about my ponds!)

Were are you located?  I am in the Pryor OK area.  As you know, bermuda
grass is commonly used for turf and quite invasive.  Also annual grasses
are the pits.  Your biggest task will be in removing the bermuda and
preventing it from growing back in.
If you till this up, the roots will still be there.  Another option is to
use Roundup, but that will probably get boos from the OGs, and you have to
wait a week or two for it to do it's thing.

First, layout the area, and  dig out the top 6 inches of soil.  Go to any
good nursery and purchase some good quality landscaping fabric.  Get buy
six feet of 6 foot wide material.  It comes on a roll and you can purchase
what you need.

Now build a frame of 2" by 12" lumber.  Have the lumber yard cut it in four
foot lengths for you.  I recommend using treated as our heavy clay soil
retains so much moisture, but, again possible "boos" from the OGs.  Now I
stay organic with fertilizer and NEVER use pesticides, but here I fudge a
bit.

Set the frame in the bed, and lay the landscape fabric inside. Staple the
fabric to the inside top of the frame.

Now, start scrounging leaves, grass clippings, manure, and throw all your
kitchen veggie wastes in.  In other words: LET IT ROT.   (BTW, we have GOBS
of leaves at our house!) Just keep filling it up in layers, and keep it
watered and turned.
Add a little of the soil you removed, but be sure to sift out any roots.

For now, to make it look nice, put a few potted plants on top.  By late
summer, this may decompose pretty much for a fall garden.
If you want to get going right now, I would suggest that Wal-mart has
Sunshine Mix potting soil for $5.97 for a 50 qt bag.  This is great stuff,
but to fill the entire square, plan on upto 8 bags.

Or wait til it all rots, and just add a couple bags and you are all set.
Several of the grocery stores, that put up temporary "garden centers" are
closing their plants and you can get some great bargains.  I got flats of
impatiens today for $6 each.
I have also had good results with Magic Earth, a peatmoss substitute
potting soil.  For my taste it doesn't have enough vermiculite or perlite,
but you can add these.

Email me if you are in my area and I'll fix you up with some shredded
oak/hickory leaves.  We have an unending supply, but you will need some
green stuff to balance it for good compost.
Pam   pingle@viagrafix.com
Pam's Puddle http://www.viagrafix.com
Internet Ponder, Editor:
IPS online magazine: http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/newletter.html

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