How should I prepare a planting bed?

In order to start a vegetable garden, it is essential to have just the right canvas to start on. The following are some tips on how to turn a section of your lawn into the perfect garden bed.

 

The first thing you want to do is mark a place that you want your garden to be. Estimate how big you want your garden to be, but keep in mind the types and sizes of vegetables that will be growing there. A bed should never be narrower than 42”, and corner beds should be 12’ in diameter. When in doubt, always go bigger then what you think! To big of a garden is much easier to fix then too small of one.

 

The easiest way to maker out your planting beds is to use a can of upside down spray paint at the hardware store. This is designed for painting lines on the ground. This will easily mark where you want the garden to be.

 

The next thing you need to do is get rid of the grass. There are two methods used to get rid of grass that is covering where you want your garden to be. First, there is a chemical method. Remember, with whichever chemical you choose to use, be sure and read the instructions carefully. Also keep in mind that it is going to kill any plant that it touches, so keep it away from other plants outside your gardening area. Put the chemical into a sprayer that you do not plan on using for any other purpose. Keep the pressure on the sprayer low, and only pump enough to spray a little at a time. If you spray too much you risk it drifting to outside of the planting area. You only want to spray enough to dampen the grass in the area. More is not better! Also, be careful not to step in the area after spraying. Once you are done spraying, leave it alone! Most chemicals require you to leave it in place for at least 72 hours.

 

After the waiting period, start digging! Start digging around the edge of the bed and strip the sod back about 15”. This will make it easier to edge and mulch the bed if you get the sod out of the way.

 

If you want to get rid of the grass without chemicals, start by stripping the sod back 15”. Now dig about 1-1/2” when removing the sod from the edges. Then take the sod and lay it in the center of the bed upside down and pack it down firmly. Now take nine layers of newspaper and cover the entire bed area.

 

No matter which method you use, you are now ready to add the topsoil. Place 8 to 12” of topsoil in the bed. Make the soil higher in the back, closest to the wall. This is so the water drains away from the building. Once the topsoil is in place you are ready to plant!