Whether you will want the paper or cardboard really depends on what would be growing on the soil you will put the raised bed on.

When I converted my in ground bed I didn't use anything under the bed as it was bare soil. I haven't had anything grow up from under.

If you have noxious weeds that seem to grow through anything nearby then you might want to use something to keep them from growing under and up. I am thinking primarily of those weeds which spread underground.

What justaguy said on the use of paper or cardboard, that is, you probably don't need it.

For that matter, with that kind of starting soil, I'd be tempted to scrape up the existing dirt to form the beds (or the greater bulk of the raised portion) and haul in material to use for walkways in between.

I am going to agree with Ray. While Mel's mix is great and all, if you have soil that you have amended with compost for 36 years I wouldn't be filling beds up with stuff bought from a store. I would be using the garden soil.

Yikes, I just turned 37 recently. You have been working the same soil for as long as I have been alive. Be a shame to have that soil serve no purpose other than a walked on pathway.

Hello ray_scheel and justaguy2, I have been composting for nearly 50Yrs!!!!, age is another reason IÂm downsizing my garden. I have a ½ acre lot with 5 huge maple trees and 5 semi dwarf apple trees. I compost all the leaves and all the vegetation growth from my lot. Come spring I will have approximately 4 cubic yds of finished compost. What I may do is fill my beds half way with 50/50 garden soil and compost and the remainder with 100% compost. That way I will have a smoother transition between soil types. John

John,

One thought in regard to the beds is their height. 8" is plenty for the plants, but you may want to give some consideration to making them higher and providing a seating surface. It is much more comfortable than having to lean over all the time.

Also give some thought to the width of the beds as well. Mine are 3' wide and I wouldn't want them any wider as far as reaching in to the middle comfortably.

The more comfortable they are to work in the more work can be done in them ;-)

After all the years of gardening you have done I think you deserve to have the Cadillac of gardens at this point, don't you?

Responding to justaguy's post about seating surfaces and bed widths...

I think justaguy is a very wise guy indeed. I'm 37 now as well and am beginning to appreciate techniques that make gardening easier on the body.

Oooooh!! to be 37 again. I was traveling 120 days/yr for ALCOA, raising 5 children, gardening, camping, hunting, fishing, and owned a gaming horse. Today my hobbies are gardening, computers/photography, and some camping. I think most 30 yr olds could not keep up to me then. And because of video games and computers, I think a lot of young kids can't keep up today, its a shame.

Oh well back to SFG. I use a nealing/sitting stool that works great. It saves the knees and the stool legs aid in geting back up.

{{gwi:1287988}}

My progress to date is, the two boxes on the left and the three boxes in the center are finished and in place. I am currently building the three boxes for the right. The poly tubing will be about six ins. below ground level and the soaker hose will be about three ins. below the bedding surface. Can't wait for spring!!!

It's looking beautiful! Every time I read this thread I start thinking of ways I'd like to redesign the garden to make it easier and more productive. Maybe this year?

Just a couple of questions about burying the soaker hose:

1. What techniques are you using to avoid damaging the hose when you dig?
2. How will you detect damage (accidental or wearing out) of the buried soaker hose?
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I use drip irrigation and soakers all over the gardens, and I have these problems every season. I would be delighted if you could share some ideas on how to make it work better.

Cheers, and I love it so far! What software did you use to generate the picture?

Ralleia, the volume of compost in the beds will reduce every year. So my thinking is to have the soaker hose just under the mulch layer, it will be 2 or 3 ins. deep. I will be able to feel with my fingers where the hose is and either move it slightly or move the plant slightly. The following year I will lift it back up to the bed surface before I mulch again.

I have a moisture meter and plan to use it to detect if the bed is uniformly moist over the entire bed. I will also have visual inspection when I lift it in the spring.

I purchased my hose, tubing and fittings from the Drip Store and they recommend draining the hose before freezing weather. They claim if you donÂt it will degrade the hose quickly. The greenhouse floor will be about 24 ins. below the drip hose and I shouldnÂt have any problem draining it.

For graphics I use Coral Paint Shop Pro and/or Adobe Photo Shop. I would highly recommend either one.

Hope this helps, John

My progress to date. Just in time for planting season.


John

John

Amazing work John! I hope to be gardening when my kids are long gone as you are. I also hope that their gardening with me now will inspire them to continue the tradition. I however, started with SFG due to space constraints, but went 16.5 inches high on my beds to allow me to squat on a step stool to save my back while gardening. Your inventions are ingenious! Very impressive.

I was just speaking to my family today about wanting a compost bin but having no space for one that gets anywhere near enough sun. For now I'll just have to buy it.

You inspire me, thank you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's first garden adventure!

this looks very, very nice.....

Kudos John. Really beautiful work. You inspire me too. Oh how I wish I could have a little greenhouse. These Kansas winds and hail would tear it up in a minute, although many people do have them. I'm 65 and getting way to old to rebuild all the time.

You answered some of my questions on soaker hose. I've been wondering what to do. Does your hose run from one box to the next under the walkway? Or does each box have it's own? If it does go under the walkway, I'm guessing you are connecting it to a non-soaker portion?

Like you, I have been gardening for many years, amending as I go. My soil is really nice, like coffee grounds. Last year was my first attempt at SFG, and I had to restrain myself from planting in rows. I had two boxes made last year and they are too wide, but I'll use them anyway. The man who made them is our high school shop teacher and he even made dado joints. A real work of art. I almost hated to put dirt into them. Anyway, I used my good garden dirt, even from the walkways because I didn't want to waste it. I filled in the walkways with cedar mulch on top of newspaper. The only problem I incurred was when the apple tree decided to make her way into one of the boxes and help herself. I just pull up her roots. She'll have to go elsewhere. I feed her well enough as it is, the greedy thing.

This year, I had four more boxes built, but only three feet wide. I plan to devote one of them to lasagna. I've never done that before. My family is all grown up and long gone, too far away to enjoy the fruits of my labors, but I love to share and most of all digging in the dirt makes me happy.

One last question, if I want to increase the height of the boxes for the sake of these old bones, can that be done? They are made out of 2x8 cedar. I can ask my friend the shop teacher to do it for me. He won't take any money for his labor so I give him and his family all the produce they can eat.

Thanks for any information. Again, you are indeed an inspiration.

Yes, beds can be raised higher. You can even use much cheaper fill dirt for the deep parts as long as you leave 6-12" at the top for the "good stuff".

Thanks for all the complements, just sharing my project too see it I am over looking anything.


Does your hose run from one box to the next under the walkway? Or does each box have it's own? If it does go under the walkway, I'm guessing you are connecting it to a non-soaker portion?


Yes polyhose runs under the walkway and connects to the soakerhose at the boxes.


if I want to increase the height of the boxes for the sake of these old bones, can that be done?


Yes if you want too, but checkout the link below.


John

Here is a link that might be useful: SFG Accesory for Old F#%ts

Thanks for that link, John. I can see where that contraption would help.

Thanks also for answering my question about the soaker hoses. Tomorrow I plan to set up the hoses. It's a perfect time to do it since I'm setting up from scratch. I have a big roll of polyhose and a big box of all kinds of connections I bought at an auction last fall. Am gonna enjoy the day since I like doing stuff like this. Thanks again.

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I started this project about last October by replacing my GH and deciding to go to SFGardening. I have a few more plants to put in as soon as the sweet potatoes arrive and mulch everything then I can set back and sip a few bloody marries and watch the veggies grow.

My project this summer and fall will be to get last falls leaves composted and these two areas converted to SFG.
John