Gardening seems to be a lot of "what works and what doesn't." With all the extra work you've done, please let us know if the landscaping fabric works. Nice garden.

I found my 2008 pictures - SFG pre-crabgrass :)

Here is a link that might be useful: 2008 SFG pics

I personally prefer the landscape fabric, but the BH does not so it went bye-bye. We use erosion control straw matting now, better home for critters. I bet you'll enjoy the fabric. You can trellis cantaloupe with excellent results.

I like the loose chicken wire and I bet you'll like that too. Go git 'em.

Dan

That looks awesome.

I got some great advice re weeds/mulch on my local gardening forum.

In the past I used landscaping fabric, but not only is it pricey, but some persistent weeds (crab grass and bermuda grass here, ugh) grow right up through it.

This year, I have surrounded all of my plants with 2 layers of newspaper topped with mulch (shredded leaves or grass clippings). The newspaper will rot into the soil, and helps to maintain the moisture and control weeds.

So far so good! I have no weeds in my SF raised beds.

I have a seemingly endless roll of landscape fabric from Sam's Club, so this was a freecycle from the basement project :)

6/5/10 Lettuce and pole beans are getting bigger. I burned holes in the fabric with a propane torch to plant my bush beans. My square bird cages to keep the grackels out of the bean sprouts won't work with this configuration though.

6/5/10 This seems to be a clumping nasturtium instead of a vining one.

6/5/10 Cucumbers have found the trellis and started blooming.

6/5/10 Please don't mention these to the squirrels... :-D

6/5/10

Here is a link that might be useful: 2010 Garden Album

That looks really pretty! I really like how well your close-ups turn out with the black background.