One of the benefits of living in the heat of Phoenix is the extended gardening season (and by extended, I mean year-round). We’ve been spending all our free time the last few weeks putting in a garden (finally) and it is almost done.
Of course, no project is complete without one of our little helpers taking our tools:
We ended up doing raised garden beds because the soil around our house is practically solid rock. Our first attempt at raised beds (a few years ago) taught us a great deal on how to do it right. Or rather, what NOT to do wrong – namely, don’t use 1×8 pine boards, 2 feet apart, in an area with no sun and no drainage.
Now that we are nearing the point where we put in soil and plants, I’m realizing that I’ve gotten myself into a huge amount of work. Weeding, planting, de-bugging, fertilizing…Unfortunately, it is too late to call off the whole project and put in a pool instead. (Darn it!) I can’t wait til the kids are older and I can make them do some of the work! (Because as my parents could attest, I ALWAYS helped in the garden without a single complaint and I’m sure my kids will be the same).
That wood is beautiful!! Can’t wait to see it. What kind of soil do you get, where do you get it from. I think about doing our garden raised but just don’t. I have thought about doing it with the straw and hay. “The organic, less water way” it sounds like fun.
We got a compost/sand/gypsum mix from a company in Phoenix (I’ve already forgotten the name – I’ll have to look it up). We have some left over (per my usual, I ordered too much), so if you want to build up a bed (or to just work into your soil) you’re welcome to it!
I’m trying out the pure organic way (using natural fertilizers and home-remedy insect control). We’ll be planting our first plants this week, so we’ll see how it does.