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Re: New garden

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

In a message dated 99-11-27 08:20:10 EST, you write:

<< Can I just plop the beds down on it? Do I have to dig it
 all out? >>

I would put down some newspapers first. Add about 6-8 inches of "Mel soil" or 
a combo of  peat, compost , manure, and top soil (organic if possible) on top 
of the newspapers and cover that all with mulch for the winter. The 
newspapers will smother any grass and weeds but will not prevent roots from 
your plants from eventually penetrating through them. You'll have a nice 
fertile soil to use in the spring.

<<Do I have to rototill first? Can I just rototill it all in,
including the ivy? Rototill the weeds/grass but dig the ivy? >>

I wouldn't rototill, but I would pull the ivy. Stuff seams to grow through 
anything.

<<Do I need to
do anything about the roots from the apple tree? >>

I pulled a bunch of pine tree roots from my garden. Used my neighbors ax to 
chop them out. Could be that with the raised beds and newspaper method it 
won't be necessary. Somebody else on the list may be better able to tell you.

<<I am thinking about doing two 2x10's stacked on top of
each other for a 20" deep bed,""

Probably more than you need. I have 2x8's in the parts of my garden that I 
used the above method and found them more than deep enough.

<<Thoughts on pressure-treated versus redwood?>>

Yes. Avoid pressure treated. The poisons used to treat the wood will leech 
into the soil. 

<<Should I build it, get the dirt in, then just
let it sit naked all winter?>>

Cover it with chopped leaves or straw if you can find any.

<<Thanks for getting me going!>>

Have fun.

Jim Kirker


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