| Many people love square foot gardening because | | | | you can mix flowers, vegetables, or herbs in each |
| they can get so much beauty from a small space. | | | | square foot. It doesn't hurt to mix the plants as they |
| You can build a square foot garden following an | | | | will each be planted in their own square foot space. |
| exact square foot layout, or you can garden using a | | | | You should plant only 2 or 3 seeds per hole; it |
| square foot layout and put a few square feet | | | | doesn't take much to make a beautiful garden. When |
| together to make a larger space for vegetables and | | | | you water, use a bucket of sun-warmed water and |
| other larger plants. Here are the basics of what you | | | | water gently by hand. The seeds are very delicate at |
| will need to develop a small Square Foot Garden of | | | | first, and you don't want to just spray them with a |
| your own. You will need to build or buy boxes that | | | | hose and send them flying all over the place. Then, |
| sit above the ground to hold your soil and plants. If | | | | sit back and watch everything grow. At harvest time |
| you are using more than one box, space them 3' | | | | enjoy the fruits of your labor, or the beauty of your |
| apart so you can walk in between them. You don't | | | | garden, and then when everything is done blooming |
| want to ever step inside the box and damage your | | | | and growing, add fresh compost and replant new |
| plants. Place your boxes in an area that gets 6 - 8 | | | | crops. Note: Square foot gardens do not always have |
| hours of sunshine daily, and it should sit somewhere | | | | to be exactly square. You can get creative and add a |
| close to the house so you can water often. Because | | | | little flair by using an Octagon shape, or even round |
| you are working with small spaces, you may have to | | | | (although round is going to be harder to work with). |
| water more often than you do your larger garden. | | | | And, you can also add some small garden art pieces |
| The soil mixture should consist of 1/3 part compost, | | | | to make it more pleasing to look at while your plants |
| 1/3 part peat moss and 1/3 coarse vermiculite. | | | | are young. It's up to you whether you leave the art |
| Remember that your garden will be arranged in | | | | in as the plants grow. Some people find that when |
| squares, not rows (it's a little deceiving because if | | | | their flowers start to bloom, they like to see the |
| you do it right, and all of your squares are the same | | | | natural look and will take the garden art out. Others |
| size, it will look like you have rows. First, lay out your | | | | just enjoy the beauty of it all. It's your garden, and |
| garden in 4' by 4' areas, then make a square foot | | | | now you should have enough information to make it |
| grid on the top and start separating them into 1' | | | | enjoyable for years to come! |
| sections. Depending on what you like to eat, or view, | | | | |