Building Our New Garden

Step 3: Traditional Row Garden Beds

When building a traditional row garden bed, you'll want to make sure your soil is high quality, free from rocks, and clumpy debris. Traditional row garden beds should have narrow paths between them to make weeding easier, and they should be situated in an area with good airflow to prevent mildew and other diseases. You should also make sure the location gets the proper amount of sunlight according to the needs of the plants you want to grow.

Step 4: Bringing in Organic Compost Soil

Organic compost soil is an excellent material for improving soil quality and promoting plant growth. Most gardening experts recommend incorporating a few inches of compost into the soil for each growing season. The results we've seen in our plants has been excellent as a result.

We brought in 3 dump trailers (15 cubic yards) of organic compost soil to fill each of the boxes and beds. Our natural soil quality is very poor, so bringing in soil was our only option. You could also have a soil test performed and evaluate the pH levels so you can know more about the type of soil. Most garden soils should have a pH level of 6.5 to 7.

Step 5: Building a Field Fence

A field fence helps keep larger pests like deer and goats outside of your garden. Garden pests can wreak havoc in your garden by feeding on your carefully planted seeds and tender, young plants. Building a field fence is a relatively easy process, and it'll help eliminate most garden pest problems. Begin by digging holes around the perimeter of your garden where each fence post will be placed. Before setting each post, make sure it's level and then set it with concrete.

Whether you are looking to start a small garden or a large one, the process can seem daunting. However, with proper planning, tools and materials, building a garden can be a fun and rewarding project. In this blog post, we'll detail how we build our 2,400 sq ft garden with raised bed planter boxes and traditional row garden beds.

Step 1: Planning Your Garden

The first step in building your garden is to develop a plan that details what you want to plant, the layout of your garden, and the materials you'll need. The layout is critical. For instance, if you plan on planting tall plants like tomatoes or corn, be sure to put them in the north or east side of your garden to avoid shading out your shorter plants. If you plan on planting vegetables that require more shade such as lettuce and spinach, make sure to give them their own designated area that won't get too much sun. Raised bed planter boxes are also another great option for grouping specific plants together.

Step 2: Building Raised Bed Planter Boxes with Cedar Planks

Raised bed planter boxes are available in various shapes and sizes. The height of the box is perfect for practicing good drainage, and raised beds take up less space than traditional row gardening. The available height also minimizes the amount of soil required to fill them, and they provide a better growing environment for plants that need good drainage. Cedar is an excellent material choice for raised bed planter boxes due to its natural resistance to decay. Cedar planks are readily available at any lumberyard, and you'll need them for your planter boxes base, walls, and corners – be sure to acquire enough for the size of your garden.

Start by laying out your site and cutting the cedar planks to the required size. We recommend creating boxes that are between 12 and 24 inches deep, which makes them an ideal height for planting. When building your boxes, make sure the corners are secure and won’t come apart over time.

Constructing your dream garden is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. A successful garden requires proper planning, specialized materials, and dedicated effort. With the information provided in this blog post, you'll be well on your way to building an impressive garden with raised bed planter boxes made from cedar planks and traditional row garden beds, along with bringing in 3 dump trailers of organic compost soil and building a field fence around it to keep goats and deer out. Remember, a little hard work and dedication is all it takes to have the garden of your dreams. Enjoy your new garden!

We finished just in time to welcome our first child 3 days later!