About the potager...

So, DH is building the 4' x 4' x 10" raised boxes for the potager. These are sides only, no bottoms. I plan on putting down weedblock under the gravel walks in between the 9 boxes. My question is, if I put weedblock under the boxes as well will this pose a problem to any flowers/veggies/herbs planted in the boxes? Will the roots of the intentional plants be able to go through the block? I would like to limit weeds as much as possible but don't want to inhibit the intentionals. I put weed block in the bed next to the house, but cut holes in the block then planted the intentionals.

Outta - may I suggest putting cardboard down instead - works as a perfect weedblock for the first year, and that seems to be pretty sufficient for killing off weedlings (as K describes them!) - and then it dissapears so there is no problem digging. Maybe we could get some of those that have longer experience of Lasagne bedding on board to discuss what they have found. I'm only 2 years into the L.Bed method - but it does seem to eradicate what I'm covering over.

Thanks Laurie...somehow I knew you'd have the answer. Never even thought of cardboard and NEVER thought of lasagne because I didn't know what it was. Saw several references to it on different threads so googled it and now I know! My mom and we have a plethora of boxes we have been taking to the recycle bin. Oops ~ we won't be doing that any longer! Do the roots of the intentionals not go that deep or are they able to work their way through?

intentionals being what you are planting?

Can I call on someone elses help here - I know this is hard to believe considering that I always have something to say - but I have really hit my knowledge limit when it comes to planting in the first year. I'm making L.Beds a year in advance (I'm only planting mine up once they have composted for 12 months - no reason other than I am making more than I can keep up with). Others have talked about planting straight away, and I assume this is the same as the method with exclusion fabrics - cut and fold back. But with cardboard that won't have to be the case after the cb dissolves (in about a year) - I think that would be so much nicer than using fabric which would be there permanently.

Yes, by intentionals I mean the ones I plant. These will be primarily herbs/small veggies/flowers. The beds are raised 10". And I would like to plant them as soon as we have the area laid out.

This is a picture from a link offered by K59 a while back. The plants will likely be similar to the ones in the example this year, particularly the alyssum bed. Also will have a pepper bed and a salsa bed. I can't remember roots getting quite that deep the first year which is why I think it might be okay to plant right away.

This is going to be fabulous!

Oh, Lovely!! What a cool plan. I completely agree with Laurie about the cardboard. Make it heavy, and wet it down good. It will be rotted through by next year, enriching your soil as it kills weeds. When we moved onto this property most of the landscaping was completely covered with english ivy, blackberries, and other noxious and invasive weeds detrimental to my health as a gardener. We killed them with cardboard and mulch. It works nicely.
If you wet the cardboard well enough, soak it all the way through, you should be able to plant right away. If you can mound the soil up a bit so they have a bit more than 10 inches, that would be safer. But if you know you are planting something with deep roots, just cut the cardboard in that area. Not a problem.

I agree with everyone above. Cardboard does work great. Horsetails can come through asphalt. so once they come through the weed fabric you have a tangled mess of fabric and weeds. We were doing a large area where we didn't have enough cardboard and my DH went to the dump to pull some out of the cardboard recycler and the worker there wasn't going to let him take any my husband couldn't believe it and kept taking carboard. Usually behind the strip malls there are big things of recyling bins where nobody would bother you for taking cardboard. Good advice all. I think you garden is going to look great. Heidi

I have been going Lasagna gardening for almost 4 years now, and the cardboard works great, and trust me does not bother the roots, and the worms love it. also newspapers work too.
The only draw back that has come up is make sure you take the tape off the cardboard it will pop up sooner or later, I forgot to do that.

Outta - looks like cardboard is the way to go! One more load not going to the refuse tip!

Hey...thanks EVERYONE ~ cardboard it is. DH has 7 of the 9 boxes built, the other 2 will be finished this weekend. I'll lay them out where I want them and do all the gazintas to figure out how much cardboard I need. I think us, my mom, and bro/SIL we probably have enough to do all 9 of them. Otherwise, we can always go steal ~ oops, "borrow" ~ from the recycle bin at the transfer station!

Sounds like a great plan Sheri, I can hardly wait to see pictures! The only problem I have had in my raised beds is that is they are not deep enough the carrots will grow straight down and then start growing sideways. So you might have carrots with little crooks, still taste the same just difficult if you choose to peel them!

Hey Rachel...may hold off on carrots this year. Haven't quite figured out what I'm going to put in all of them. Maybe some of the freebies from Heidi, huh? I'm going to be gone to Portland this weekend, but DH is staying home to sit the furbabies, so the boxes will be done. Next weekend will be the official groundbreaking...WOO HOO!

Ya know what happends to carrots when you forget about them and they winter over?

Nope...what?

There are still edible.

I think weedblock fabric in a permanent planting area is a mistake. When I first plated some fruit trees and blueberries I didn't have any knowledge or experience with it and used the fabric to suppress weeds around the base, covering it with mulch. A few years later, the fabric was all tangled in the blueberry roots and choking the trunk of the trees. It was quite difficult to dig out of there as it tore into little pieces and was intertwined with the plants. I wouldn't use it that way ever again. I might use the stuff to keep my vegetable garden paths relatively free of weeds and shake it out and re-lay it every Spring. The cardboard sounds much better for under the soil of the bed. I have used cardboard in the pathways too, but the problem there is that it gets slippery to walk on when soaked with rain. I inadvertently discovered an easy way to remove the tape. One year I collected cardboard and didn't get to placing it in the garden. the pile got wet and I found that the tape peeled off extremely easily.

I found something that works great for the walk ways in the garden, rolled roofing felt and then cover it with fine bark, I have to replace it about every 3 years. Have had no problems with it.

Oooh Tills...the felt is a good idea. Certainly would keep out the weeds and less inclined to slip.

My sons a roofer gave me that idea.

Outta
this was my project "Woodland garden" I started last spring, what it looked before I started.

This is phase 1, with allot of help from PNWs, Mostly Laurie who I side saddle with on her tread "Taming the Wild Garden" ( Newbie to DG then)

This is a pic of my poor garden this last year, never got to do anything with it because of things that happen with work work, no time and Woodland took the rest.
Hope to meet you soon, your not that far from me. If you are in the area let me know we can have coffee.

I do so envy you your woodland area, Tillysrat. It's so peaceful and lovely.

With your plants just wait gona be better.

Tills...that's beautiful. This whole place has been so inspirational for me and I see how much work I really have. I can barely wait to dive into the "big stuff!" You're right, I am fairly close by, relative to where everyone else is located, and do get over that way frequently since my bro and sil live in Poulsbo. Matter of fact, I'll be passing through this morning on my way to Portland and tomorrow on my way back ~ I usually take 3 to 16 then down 5 (101 is too slow for me). Maybe tomorrow on my way back I can stop by briefly if you're around?

Tils, that is beautiful and so nice to be sidesadled with you. thanks

Hey Sheri I'm just of I-5 exit 114 (literally I am 3 minutes from the exit) you will have to stop by sometime on one of your trips and have some tea and cookies!

Tilly I love the woodland on a hot day ir would be a perfect cooling off place with a magazine and iced tea. Pretty soon we will be complaining how hot it is. I've been having a panic attack lately. I have so much to do and not enought time. It will be better than last year which will be as good as it gets. I always think I can get more done than I really can. Heidi

If it had not been for Laurie, Murmur, Pixy, Rach, Gwen, Susy, Katie, Kathy and I know I could go on and on with allot that I have not mentioned that I know where part of why DG has become my home. ( or I would not have stayed with it)
There inspiration that made 'Woodland Garden' I had the idea they had the YES YOU CAN. LOL

Laurie
I could not think of a better word to tell it ( I was in the sidesaddle) of someone I think the world of.
For you (they are raising thier little heads now, this was last years)

Ohhhhh, sweet Tils - the perfect posy! They are gorgeous - thank you.

And Heidi - what a relief to hear that the professional gardens the same as the rest of us - 'more done than I can do' - I'm going to have that engraved somewhere! The perfect description of being a gardener.

Tills, I agree, it is a good place to be - saddle up, girls, it may be winter, but its still gardening time!

Tills, they are beautiful! What a blue!! Yep, anytime is gardening time!

Laurie, Melissa,

You got that right
Were ready, lets go

And Tills has 2 days off!! Lets get those faeries to get her some good weather.

It's supposed to be sunny here for the next four days...looks like the faeries are working overtime!

One good thing is the sun is shining but it is cold, all white frost on everything and its alittle windy. going to get something done today.

Tear it up, Tills! And tear a little for me. Work work has me confined for the next 4 days, naturally just in time for the weather to snow/rain/sleet/slush/wind again!

Its 33 out side and the ground is frozen, cant do much so decided to plant more seeds (winter sown) inside.
took some pics of little shoots coming up, will post them after I down load them.

Can you believe this weather? my ground is actually crusty with frost! So I did some weeding in one bed that had a little sun on it so the crust melted. It's so beautiful outside though, I think I got a little sunburn on my nose!!