Setting up a Square Foot Garden

Many people love square foot gardening becauseyou 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 anwill each be planted in their own square foot space.
exact square foot layout, or you can garden using aYou should plant only 2 or 3 seeds per hole; it
square foot layout and put a few square feetdoesn't take much to make a beautiful garden. When
together to make a larger space for vegetables andyou water, use a bucket of sun-warmed water and
other larger plants. Here are the basics of what youwater gently by hand. The seeds are very delicate at
will need to develop a small Square Foot Garden offirst, and you don't want to just spray them with a
your own. You will need to build or buy boxes thathose and send them flying all over the place. Then,
sit above the ground to hold your soil and plants. Ifsit 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'tgarden, and then when everything is done blooming
want to ever step inside the box and damage yourand growing, add fresh compost and replant new
plants. Place your boxes in an area that gets 6 - 8crops. Note: Square foot gardens do not always have
hours of sunshine daily, and it should sit somewhereto be exactly square. You can get creative and add a
close to the house so you can water often. Becauselittle 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 inin as the plants grow. Some people find that when
squares, not rows (it's a little deceiving because iftheir flowers start to bloom, they like to see the
you do it right, and all of your squares are the samenatural look and will take the garden art out. Others
size, it will look like you have rows. First, lay out yourjust enjoy the beauty of it all. It's your garden, and
garden in 4' by 4' areas, then make a square footnow 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,