Garden Prep Time

Oh my goodness what a mess!  As usual, the garden did not get properly winterized.  We have a lot of work to do to prepare the beds for planting!  It's time and we have a long way to go.  Last year we started purchasing composite board kits for our square foot beds.  We loved it and I couldn't have been happier with the results.  It looks nice and clean (when the garden is not in such disarray as it is now).  I will follow up with the "after" pics in the near future.

Such a mess!

New composite boards

I am so excited to get the garden started.  I hope we can get it done soon.  Unfortunately, this upcoming weekend is pretty booked with events for our family so not sure when this will get done.  I was so happy that we got such a good deal on the composite boards.  The initial ones cost a little bit more but then I found a really good deal and we bought more at substantial savings.  We combined a lot of the 4 x 4 beds to make 4 x 12 beds and even one long 4 x 20 ft. bed.  I loved the set up last year and look forward to finishing up and joining the last few beds together to create 3 more 4 x 12 beds!  It reduced the number of isle ways (thus fewer weeds!).

Part of the 4 x 20 ft. bed

I also realized that I wanted to expand the number of support trellises that we have.  Last year we used the 4 ft. wide ones made with two t-posts and a section of 4 ft. fencing in between.  I soon realized that with our new set up it was better to have the supports in the middle of the beds.  I also saw online where many gardeners were using cattle panels to do this.  My hope is that eventually, we will do this.  Currently, I think the cost is a little prohibitive. We already have quite a bit of fencing available and only need to buy a few more t-posts so that is what we will use for now.  Each year we learn a little more and try new things.  Some work, some don't.  You just readjust and move on when things don't work.

Hard to see but the Clematis is coming back nicely.

There just never seems to be enough time in the day, but we will press on and do it one step at a time as we can.  The garden went pretty well last year and I failed to follow up on a regular schedule.  I hope to change that but haven't gotten off to such a great start.  I was so worried that all the rain we had been getting would ruin the beginning of the garden season but I think we are going to be ok.  Time will tell but it is looking pretty good at this point.

How does your garden grow?  Do you have any new plans for your garden for this year?