| Compost and Garden Walkways |
| Maureen Gilmer adds a compost bin, a mulch path and other finishing touches to the garden. |
From "Weekend Gardening"
episode WKG-404 |
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Sixteen hours in to this garden restoration finds the fence replaced; the soil amended and tilled; and herbs, vegetables and flowering plants filling the rows and a three-tiered planting bed.
Time spent so far: 16 hours.
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Figure A
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Figure B
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Figure C
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Figure D
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- No kitchen garden should be complete without a compost bin. Composting is not only very easy to do but is also an important part of any organic garden. Layers of green and brown yard materials, along with anything that comes out of the kitchen that isn't of animal origin, can go into a compost pile (figure A).
Woody branches should not be added to compost piles unless they are chipped up or cut into tiny pieces. Left intact, woody stems can take as long as 10 years to decompose. Over time, the compost has to be turned to keep "cooking" since materials on the bottom of the pile will decompose much faster than the top layers. Maureen uses bat guano (which contains 10 percent nitrogen, 3 percent phosphorus and 1 percent potassium), sprinkled over the compost, to help start the biological processes that will begin the decomposition (figure B). - A mulch path, with lots of woody materials in the mulch, will stay firm even in the rain while offering easy access to the tiered beds and compost pile (figure C).
- A prefabricated gate with swinging doors adds a final touch to the look of the new garden.
What was once a thriving garden had become a neglected eyesore. The solution was to tear it all down and begin again organically. As a chemically free zone, this nutrient-rich soil will foster healthy, all-natural flowers and vegetables for many years (figure D).Time spent: 2 hours. Total time: 18 hours.
RESOURCES :
Ace Hardware Supplies
To locate the nearest Ace Hardware to your home, click here.
Ace Hardware
2200 Kensington Ct.
Oak Brook, IL 60523-2100
Toll-free: 866-290-5334
Website: www.acehardware.com
Soil Amendments
Soil amendments
Whitney Farms
Website: www.whitneyfarms.com
Plants from Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Website: www.monrovia.com
DeWalt power tools
DeWalt
Website: www.dewalt.com/us/core/
Landscaping Services by D&J Landscaping
D & J Landscaping
E-mail: DJLandscaping@sbcglobal.net
Plants from Hines Horticulture
Website: www.hineshort.com
Thorn ArMor™ gloves
Website: www.Moplants.com
Plants from Ball Horticultural Company
Various plant material
Ball Horticulture Company
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com
Galvanized metal fencing
A-11 double loop, height 48"
Hutchison Western
Website: www.hutchison-inc.com
Small square cedar plant bed
Item #799916
Smith and Hawken
Website: www.smithandhawken.com
Raised plant bed and compost bin
The Trex Company
Website: www.trex.com
Stackable corner joints
Item #34-602
Gardener’s Supply Company
Website: www.gardeners.com
Gated arbor and obelisks
Gated arbor item #I-1191; obelisk item #I-1198
Guadalajara Industries
Website: www.guadalajaraind.com
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