I really had no intentions of adding any new garden beds this year. We’re busy, I’m traveling more for work, more house projects. Hadn’t even started any seedlings.
But gardening, as they say, is a gateway drug to … more gardening.
And that’s how I ended up with a new 4′ x 15′ bed for the onions, a rebuilt hugelkultur 4′ x 12′, a 5′ x 7′ bed for the squash, and a new long strawberry patch.
It all started with one of the tomato beds from last year. I mistakenly planted it too close to the lawn, and the bermuda grass saw an opportunity to colonize fresh new ground.
Future tomato bed, infested by bermuda grass. Dormant in February, but biding its time.
The restoration of this bed I detailed in a post a few week ago (“Gardening Interlude“). It was essentially to surround the bed with an impenetrable barrier/moat, and dig down almost to hardpan level to rip out all the bermuda roots.
I quite enjoy pulling out bermuda roots, by the way. A bit like setting out choke traps for moles, another garden nemesis. Every time I pull a rhyzome or root cluster out of the soil, I fancy to hear little bermuda “Noooo” screams. I then toss the bermuda roots onto the lawn to bake and die in the sun. Just a little vindictiveness for flavor, yes?
Once I had the dig-down-and-rip-out operation well underway, I moved on Forrest-Gump-like into trying the hugelkultur technique (“Since I’d gone this far, might as well run across the great state of Alabama”).
Start of a hugelkultur bed - laying down the base wood
Done with laying out the wood. Next step, backfilling with the garden soil. Number Two Son in background looking for fat earthworms to use as fishing bait.
Hugelkultur bed, soil all backfilled, planted in the south end with the first two tomatoes, and mulched with good wheat straw. (Top right is the future compost pile, composed for now of last year's tomato plants and drifts of leaves)
All the wood used for the bed borders beds is recycled and re-purposed wood, hence the difference in appearance and sizes. For the one above, you can see that the north end is 4″ x 4″ treated timber, while the west side is bordered by regular 2″ x 6″ x 8′ fir. The untreated wood will rot out in a couple years, but by that time I might replace with rocks (free from Craigslist, of course).
Hugelkultur, for new readers, is a permaculture method pioneered by the renowned Sepp Hulzer on his Austrian alpine farm (hence the Germanic moniker). The inner timber layer eventually decays and acts as a sponge, absorbing and retaining water. The plants, for their part, sink down long tap roots and wrap around this source of moisture. In essence, this means less watering over time.
I may have made a small tactical error in putting down relatively new oak timber, instead of well-rotted and more sponge-like deadfall, but it’s what I had on hand.
After backfilling, I spent some time “charging” up the bed with a water hose. I’ve since done this a couple of times, and will again. Deep watering, indeed.
Next up, the onion bed. I had impulse bought three bags of onion sets (red, sweet white, and yellow), and they needed a home. Using onion sets, by the way, is a way of short-cutting raising onions. They’re packed in bags of little bulblets, typically 40 or 50 per bag. At $3 to $4 per bag, not a bad investment.
The 4' x 15' Onion Bed ( the compost pile takes shape, next to the wheelbarrow )
For this bed, I used the 4 x 4 treated wood posts that came from our old fence from our other house. The whole north side of the fence blew down last year in a typical Oklahoma thunderstorm. Replaced it with a new fence, but kept the posts to use as … something. This something became the new garden bed.
The border is not exactly level, but that's OK
As an experiment, I decided to lay cardboard only under the retaining timber border, to deter any stray bermuda. The ground was mostly weeds. After pulling up the major part of the weeds and tossing them onto the growing compost pile (prior to putting out seed heads, weeds make for useful biomass), I hand-tilled the clay soil with a spade and pick, adding old manure and old rotted hay.
The clover and purple henbit and other assorted weed growth that had covered the ground will add a good foundation of organic matter to the bed. The eight inches or so of soil on top, plus two to four inches of mulch, will keep it from sprouting up.
That’s it for today. Come back in a day or so for Part 2, more thoughts and tips and tricks on this gardening season’s garden bed building.
How about it, readers? Are you planning to put in a garden this year? First-time newbie? Shoot me an email if you’d like some insights in what not to do. Chances are I’ve already done it, and regretted.
Very nice design. I wasn’t familiar with this method. I had only heard of Square Foot Gardening with raised beds.
John @ Married (with Debt) recently posted..Debt Payoff Progress March 2012
Hi John – square foot gardening is a great way to get started. I eventually went to different methods, just by way of experimentation and necessity.
Impressive, jeez man! Tell Number Two Son to not take all the earthworms, arent’ they supposed to be good for gardens? Great work and you’ll save money by eating fresh veggies!
TB recently posted..A Home After Foreclosure
And there were some honking big nightcrawlers in that soil. I felt bad every time I cut one up with the pick or shovel. About half of them that came out whole I chucked into the other beds, because you are most correct, they are excellent for the garden. The others Number Two Son claimed. Worms are great… Nature’s own little soil tillers and composters, they are.
The timber underneath is very interesting. I’ll have to keep that in mind when I have space for gardening again. I’ll drop by the community garden and see how it is progressing. We’ll probably be in charged of the basil again this year. Those can wait a bit right.
retirebyforty recently posted..Socially Responsible Investing
Hi RB40, basil sounds pretty good. I have about 4 little basil plants in the ground now, and have to restrain myself to strip them of leaves for a nice caprese salad.
Love the gateway drug comment. so true. Last spring I was edging my perennial beds and I was like, when the heck did this garden get so big? A little here, a little there and before you know it, you have enough beds to give you edging/weeding work for a month. I don’t have enough sun for veggies but I love gardening. I am really looking forward to getting a place with some land.
Onion sets have always been a staple in babcis garden. They are a great value.
First gen american recently posted..Househunting and Tradesman’s Posh Digs
Hey Sandy, believe me I know what you mean. Last year it got a little bit away from with three gardens. This year, I’ve cut back on the variety of plants to what we actually like to eat (so beets are out). Setting aside the vegetable annuals, there’s also the perennial flower beds to take care of. But weeding I like. I’ve been ogling a couple of specialty hoes. Maybe father’s day will come early.
Holy crap!! (or manure, if you prefer) that looks like a lot of work.
a great reminder as to why I don’t garden.
fascinating read nonetheless and I’m sending a link to my gardening pal.
jlcollinsnh recently posted..Where in the world are you?
Work? Maybe a workout, but not work. All fun and relaxation. And beer breaks.
Growing your own vegetables and fruits is so exiting. They always taste nice
I miss gardening so much!! (moved into an apartment) You have a ton of space for it. If it were me, I would have a TON of beds myself.
Jessica, The Debt Princess recently posted..Is There Common Sense in Personal Finance?
Yay your gardening posts are back!
Wow, sweet job on those garden beds!! Makes me remember the days I used to go out to my grandmother’s garden and watch her pick fresh lettuce, green onions, and oh man the best heirloom tomatoes EVER! Gardens rock! -Sydney
Untemplater recently posted..It’s now 2nd Quarter: Have You Already Given Up On Your 2012 Goals?