Weeded and Winterized a Clients Garden Today

[DoubleDogFarm]

Spent two hours on a clients vegetable garden today. Being a teacher and school is back in session, she's done gardening for this year.

This is what it looked like before starting. Looks like she only used about a third of the beds this year.


I used a gas line trimmer and I scalped the paths and bare raised beds.


Next I laid down 36" wide kraft paper. It comes in 167ft roll.


Then I covered the whole garden with two bales of straw.


Next spring she can either rake the straw into the paths or plant transplants right into the straw.

Some extra pictures.






Eric

[slyguy]

i like her gate!

[DoubleDogFarm]

I thought someone might comment on her gate.

My brother and I built this gate and installed her deer fence. The driftwood came from Jackson's beach, here on the island.



Eric

[The Bearded Farmer]

Great job! That is a beautiful little setup. Only thing that she could make better would be use some of that awsome wood for the fence posts.

[DoubleDogFarm]

If you look at a large view of some of the pictures, you may see, we used driftwood as corner post.


Eric

[shadowsmom]

I like the idea of using craft paper - never thought of that. Easier to work with than newspaper or cardboard.

The driftwood gate is gorgeous!

[gumbo2176]

shadowsmom, you're right about that. I remember the first time I used newspaper. It was on a day with little wind but it really doesn't take much wind to blow newspaper around. I wound up laying 15-20 ft at a time and would take the hose and water it in to help it stay in place. Thank goodness I also had enough organic material to put on top of it once it was in place to hold it down. I got lucky a few weeks ago and scored some really soft cardboard material that laid down nicely until I could mulch over it.

That stuff between the rows is a maintenance lifesaver and cuts way down on weeding and watering.

[farmerlon]

,,, I remember the first time I used newspaper. It was on a day with little wind but it really doesn't take much wind to blow newspaper around. ...

For the newspaper, I find that it's easiest to wet each section right before I lay it down. I usually put a little water in the wheelbarrow, dunk the paper, and then put it on the ground.
That eliminates the aggravation of having the wind blow the paper around before you're able to cover it.

[applestar]

Looking good, Eric.
I save the newsprint and craft paper that eco-minded companies use for packing material (as opposed to styrofoam peanuts and those inflatables) in shipped boxes. I like them better than newspaper because I don't have to worry about ink. Agree with wetting first. Since I usually soak the ground prior to laying down paper, I sometimes just make a puddle somewhere to soak the papers in.

[DoubleDogFarm]

When working for someone, the $20.00 roll of craft paper is cheaper than free newspaper. If I didn't have to fiddle a bit around existing plants, the paper laying would have taken about 15 minutes.

In this project, I used the paper for weed control, mostly on the paths. In her garden 24" wide would have been better.

My brother does just the opposite for his garden. He has 36" wide raised beds, so he runs the craft paper right down the middle. Covers the paper with mulch. When planting he cuts a X with his Hori Hori and inserts the seedling.

Eric

[shadowsmom]

shadowsmom, you're right about that. I remember the first time I used newspaper. It was on a day with little wind but it really doesn't take much wind to blow newspaper around. I wound up laying 15-20 ft at a time and would take the hose and water it in to help it stay in place. Thank goodness I also had enough organic material to put on top of it once it was in place to hold it down. I got lucky a few weeks ago and scored some really soft cardboard material that laid down nicely until I could mulch over it.

That stuff between the rows is a maintenance lifesaver and cuts way down on weeding and watering.

I use cardboard anytime the area is large enough. I find it difficult to use in tight areas. After two years I finally figured out that behind the complex where I work is an unlimited supply of cardboard. The guys in the back used to watch me "steal" some and started to come out and help me. Now I have them trained as to which type of cardboard I prefer. I know what you mean about the soft cardboard.

[garden5]

WOW, you did a great job, DDF. Did you install that little rock wall that's along the garden, as well?

[The Helpful Gardener]

That's the stuff, Eric! Nicely done!

I like that you didn't pull the weeds, leaving the roots in the ground to rot. And the craft paper is a good tip...

HG

[DoubleDogFarm]

G5,
Yes. We removed that portion of her lawn and terraced. Built the small retaining wall and installed the fence. It's are part of, "Food not Lawns"

THG,
Thank you

Eric