Square Foot Garden Boxes
In the square foot garden, every day is Boxing Day
Square foot gardening begins and ends with square foot garden boxes. Without them, you will not experience the full benefits of square foot gardening. So how do you go about getting these all-important boxes? Some people prefer to purchase garden boxes, but many gardeners find it easier and cheaper to assemble their own square foot garden boxes. If you’re the do-it-yourself sort, you’ll appreciate these tips on building square foot garden boxes.
Square foot garden boxes vs. raised beds
Square foot gardening and raised bed gardening are two of the most popular gardening trends around, and are often mistaken for one another. The major difference between square foot garden boxes and raised beds is that square foot garden boxes are built on a grid.
Raised beds offer easier access and a convenient means of using well-drained and fertile soil, but raised beds are otherwise planted much like traditional open soil gardens. Square foot garden boxes are broken down into consecutive areas of one square foot each. This grid is what gives square foot gardens their unique checkerboard appearance. A square foot garden grid makes for easier crop rotation and supplies gardeners with all the benefits of companion planting.
Size and materials
The commonest size for square foot garden boxes is 4 foot by 4 foot, though small space gardeners may prefer boxes that are 3 foot by 3 foot or 2 foot by 2 foot. Square foot garden boxes should be about six to eight inches deep. Deep bed gardeners may build up to heights of 12 or 16 inches.
Square foot garden boxes can be built from many different materials. Wood is the most popular choice. Most gardening sources caution against used treated lumber when building raised garden beds because treated lumber can become toxic to plants. Untreated wood is an acceptable choice. Some gardeners enjoy using traditional rustic furniture woods such as pine and cedar for their square foot garden boxes. Bricks, stone, and cinder blocks are alternative materials used in garden bed construction.
Another building material that is gaining in popularity is rubber. Square foot garden boxes made from rubber are cheaper to build than wooden garden boxes and last a lot longer. For more information on building square foot garden boxes from recycled tires, visit http://www.noble.org/Ag/Horticulture/Rubber/Lumber.htm.
Grids and soil
To use a square foot garden box grid you need to be able to see it. There are a number of ways to display a grid. Old venetian blinds are a simple visual aid, as is string wound around small wooden spikes. Long, thin pieces of wood are another option. A 4 foot by 4 foot garden box should feature 16 smaller boxes.
Of course you’re going to need soil before you construct your grid. Having a fertile soil mix is critical for a successful square foot garden box. Mel Bartholomew, the creator of square foot gardening, recommends a mix of 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite.
Garden box etceteras
If you’re using more than one 4 foot by 4 foot garden box, provide just enough space for you to work comfortably between them. If your gardening space is unconventional or small, experiment with L-shaped boxes or other designs.
If you decided to use treated lumber to build your square foot garden box, line it with heavy-duty plastic as a precaution before adding soil.
Go easy on seeds, water, and fertilizer. Square foot garden boxes make efficient use of the resources you provide, saving you time and money.
To determine how many plants are appropriate per square foot, look at the recommended spacing. If a plant requires 12 inches of space, then assign a single box in your grid to that plant. If a plant requires four inches of space, you’ll be able to fit nine plants in one square, i.e. three rows of three.