If you want to put in a vegetable garden in the Spring, it's a good idea to get the area ready to go now. Spring is a great time to plant because of all the rain, but it's a miserable time to dig a new garden because it's usually too wet. Here are some tips for an easy garden installation you can do now to be ready to plant in the Spring. You can actually do this technique any time of the year, but it's best to have a period of time before you plant.
First, mark out where you want your garden to be located. Choose a place that gets direct sunlight for most of the day and is close enough to run a hose to in the growing season. Somewhere you can get a garden cart into and out of easily. Next to a driveway is ideal for offloading garden additives.
Now get some old newspapers. Lay down at least four sheets, maybe a few more than that, over the whole area. Make sure no light can get to your grass below the newspaper. To keep it from blowing away, weight it down with mulched up leaves and grass clippings. Make sure the grass clippings don't have weed killer on them. These should be easy to find but there are other things you can use too. Think of anything that breaks down and feeds the soil. Straw, mulch, hay, even mulched up weeds will work nicely.
Don't worry about weed seeds because whether you put them into your garden area or not, they'll get there anyway. The key with weed seeds is to avoid letting them germinate.
Once you have a layer of newspaper and nice organic stuff, you wait. In the Spring the area will be grass free and ready to plant. Just open a slice of your mulch only large enough for your seeds or plants. Once they sprout, start to snug some straw or other mulch material up close to them.
This mulch will do several things:
1. Mulch will keep moisture in the ground. You will still need to water your plants, but you will water less often.
2. Mulch will keep weed seeds from germinating. If you see a weed sneaking up through your mulch layer, you can either pull it up and leave it on top to add to the mulch, or simply cover it with enough straw to block any light from reaching it. If it doesn't get light it will die.
3. Mulch will add fertility to your soil. As these additives break down, and they will sooner than you can believe, your plants will take what they need and leave the rest. It's good to use a variety of materials to provide a variety of nutrients.
Here are some suggestions: Go to your local coffee shop and collect the coffee grounds they throw away. See if local farmers have spoiled hay or straw you can have. Go to the pet stores and collect the rabbit poo. Sawdust and wood chips are good to use also, but in small quantities. All this goes onto your garden and builds fertility, keeps weeds out and holds moisture in the soil.
You do not have to dig this into your garden. Your plants roots stay in the top layers of the soil and the nutrients will trickle down to where they are every time you water or it rains. Think of how nature feeds trees and plants. Try to emulate nature in your gardening and you'll find success the "easy-on-your-back" way.
One last thing you must do. Find a few smaller flower pots and put them in your garden for toad-houses. Put them upside down and tilt them with a small stone so the toad can get in and out. These guys will keep the slugs and other menaces to a minimum. Provide a saucer of water as well.
That's it - while your friends are double digging, you'll be grilling with a beverage knowing nature is doing all your hard work.
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