Building a successful vegetable garden certainly can be a piece of cake even for those who have not grown their own vegetables in the past. A vegetable garden is very versatile and basically can be divided into two parts: the foliage or the edible part and the roots or the storage part. All good gardeners understand that a good healthy crop of vegetables is vital to maintaining a healthy garden that produces a bountiful harvest.
Building a vegetable garden is best done when the landscape is soft enough to work on. Hardy and difficult to reach areas should be avoided and saves the gardener the effort of fighting weeds. A garden inspect by a certified arborist may be worth the work and risk of finding trouble building a better garden.
All perennial and ornamental garden plants need to be removed; including the roots. It is vital to preserve as much structure as possible, to prevent soil erosion during high winds. Once the garden is raked clean, start digging. Start with a minimum amount of six inches of topsoil and twice that amount of base soil.
Once through, firm the soil by treading with the feet and continue to tread it down for several feet. When the garden is higher you can add a layer of mulch. Three inches of bark mulch on top of the plants will discourage weed growth and will offer a good food source for the earthworms.
gradate the top soil into the center of the garden. At this point you can work the soil around the plants. Chisel holes where you want to plant young plants.
In the following step-by-step, you can design and plant your garden.
1.) Select a site that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day.
2.) Till the soil to a depth of at least eight inches.
3.) When you are ready to plant, make small holes into the soil with a trowel, about six inches apart and dump an amount of granular fertilizer in each hole.
Preparation for Planting
1.) Select a sandy loam soil with good drainage. Clay soil will ball up close to the roots, preventing adequate drainage.
2.) Dig holes where you want to plant your vegetables.
3.) Place a small amount of compost in the bottom of each hole.
Planting
1.) Soak the feet of the plants for 12 hours prior to planting.
2.) Mix sand, peat moss and soil in the bottom of the hole.
3.) Place about six inches of soil on top of the peat moss.
4.) Fill up the holes with water and allow the water to drain.
Watering
1.) Place a layer of mulch on top of the soil to conserve water.
2.) Place a layer of fertilize on top of the soil to help the plants grow.
3.) Place a layer of grass clippings on top of the peat moss.
4.) This is also a good time to get rid of weeds.
Pruning
1.) Get some smaller shrubs and put them in the front of the garden.
2.) Keep surrounding plants trimmed.
3.) Make sure to remove all the leaves when you are finished.
Planting
1.) Dig a hole about twice as large as the root ball.
2.) Place the shrub in the hole.
3.) Fill in soil and water.
Plant Trees
1.) Dig a hole about twice as large as the tree’s root ball.
2.) Place the tree in the hole.
3.) Fill in soil and water.
Use mulch
To help conserve water and to suppress weeds, use mulch. shredded bark can be one choice or you can go with black plastic. Plastic is more expensive, but may be more durable and easier to get rid of if the need arises. You could also put up a some wire fences to keep out rabbits and other animals.
You may find that you cannot plant all your trees from seeds as some don’t transfer well, but you can plant them in beds as this will help to improve the soil. Make sure that the soil is kept moist and water as needed.
Don’t allow the roots to become too dry. A good method to check if the soil is wet enough is to stick a finger into it. If you can feel a bit of moisture, then the soil is close to the right moisture level. The roots shouldn’t be too dry, and shouldn’t be too wet either. If you are going to the nursery to pick up trees, then you can purchase these plants. But, if you want to save some money, you can grow your own from cuttings of fruit trees.
