Raised bed herb garden question.

[LovinLife]

I built a 5'x5' raised bed using cedar planks and will be planting herbs in it. What should I do to the ground before adding the dirt? Should I just till or put black landscape fabric down? I also have a strawberry pyramid I will be building soon and have the same question about what to do with the ground. Thanks.

 

[mare]

For my raised beds I just put down wet newspaper before I added the dirt. I usually put about 3 or 4 layers so that it kills the grass underneath. Eventually it will break down, but by then the grass will be gone.

 

[lesa]

If I need the sod somewhere, I'll dig it up and move it. But, otherwise I use the newspaper trick, too. Done it many times, with no complaints. I really don't like that landscaping fabric. In this application, I think it is just a waste of money. Keep us posted on your new herb garden!!

 

[LovinLife]

Ok newspaper sounds good. Good idea about the sod. There are a couple spots my cats have dug up moles that could use some filling in. Thanks for the tips!

 

[patandchickens]

I'd till before putting the newspaper down, though. It will greatly accelerate the blending of your fill soil and the existing soil (as the newspaper breaks down and disappears), and make it much easier for your plants to root down DEEP into the existing soil. Which makes them more drought tolerant and gives access to more nutrients.

So you would have: tilled native soil, covered by newspaper, covered by your fill soil.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[thistlebloom]

Maybe what Pat means is turning the soil with a shovel, as getting a tiller into a raised bed and then operating it would not be anybodys idea of a treat. I second the suggestion for the reasons she stated, better root growth, more available nutrients...

 

[LovinLife]

The only way I "till" is with a hoe or a shovel anyhow. The only tiller I have around here is one from the 1960's..... I think I have dirt younger than that thing....and I'm too intimidated to use the thing. So I gottcha I plan on getting some dirt tomorrow!

 

[vfem]

I am not even going to share my opinion about tillers today!

I would turn a bit of the soil with a shovel and then do the news paper as well. Soak it good.

Just an opinion, and my personal preference... but we have TERRIBLE moles & voles here so I lay down some chicken wire in the bottom of my beds before I add soil. This keeps those little demons out of beds and from killing my plants.

 

[LovinLife]

I am not even going to share my opinion about tillers today!

I would turn a bit of the soil with a shovel and then do the news paper as well. Soak it good.

Just an opinion, and my personal preference... but we have TERRIBLE moles & voles here so I lay down some chicken wire in the bottom of my beds before I add soil. This keeps those little demons out of beds and from killing my plants.

I thought about doing that (putting chicken wire down) but won't a mole fit through the holes? And will a mole mess with an herb garden?

 

[thistlebloom]

Moles go where the bugs are. They don't eat plants , they are insectivores. To keep moles out of your bed you'd have to use hardware cloth. ( Even gophers can fit through chicken wire. )