skip to main content

Square Foot Gardening

Weed barrier question - it is under my SFG box.....

14 years ago

I am a newbie to SFG and have made my first two beds (both 4x8) after reading Mel's "All New SFG" book. After reading the book here is how I constructed my boxes - they are made out of 2-by lumber and are 8" high (or deep, depending on how you look at it). Because we have a LOT of bermuda and highly invasive grasses in our yard, I put down weed barrier. The weed barrier is also UNDER the boxes. I didn't think anything of it as Mel says you can also make containers with fixed bottoms and shouldn't have a problem.

I just found this forum tonight and have been reading and now am questioning what I did. Am I going to have problems with my plants not being able to grow? I planned on putting in all the normal garden stuff including corn, beans, peas, lettuce, etc. Is there anything I should NOT plant in these beds?

I have the Mel's mix in place already so it would be difficult to cut out the weed barrier without a lot of work. I guess I could try to pull it out from under after lifting up the sides of the box. I was planning on planting tomorrow!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Bari

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years ago
The roots will not go thru the weed barrier, altho I'll wager the bermuda will make it up through if not this year then next.

Nonetheless, you have 8" of soil depth. Good enough for most crops, but you'll need to watch your soil moisture.

Dan
bari779
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for the reply, Dan. I have been doing more research and have decided I am going to have to remove the soil from each bed, move the frames and take up the weed barrier. I do have some cardboard boxes I can use to put down under the boxes instead.

I am discouraged and it will be a lot of extra work, but better to do it now I think. I don't have anything planted yet, so....

I sure wish I had found this forum BEFORE two days ago! (That's when I built these boxes!)

Thanks!
Bari
Related Discussions
Weed barrier under a garden box?
Q
Comments (15)
I understand this is an old thread, still hopeful that someone would answer my question. I have a slightly raised garden bed 8 feet away from a mature maple tree. The first season, I grew veggies, herbs, and flowers with very good results. At the beginning of the second season (last year), I noticed that the bed had been completely invaded by the tree with dense roots everywhere. I cut the roots, refreshed the soil, and planted the same things. They did not grow well, all the nutrients being sucked up by the big tree. Now, I am looking for a barrier to isolate my garden bed from the smart tree. It has to cover the bottom and one side of the bed. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. BTW, I cannot move the garden bed to a different location. This is the only spot that I have.
...See More
Lava rock over weed-barrier fabric 'garden'
Q
Comments (1)
Nevermind the question 'cause I notice posts haven't gone responded to since then & 'cause hubby's decided to put down brick expect for a 1-ft edge on both sides, so I can plant whatever I want there, without worrying about weed-barrier. =)
...See More
weed barrier question for new SFG gardner
Q
Comments (2)
Turf is a strong, persistent garden weed. Eventually it will grow right through the weed barrier and get its roots so tangled up in it that it becomes very difficult to pull out. You need to dig the grass out and take it away. Also, it would be a good idea (mine, not Mel's) to make the walkways between your boxes grass-free. Otherwise, the underground runners of the grass will find a way under the sides and establish themselves in your garden.
...See More
Weed Barriers
Q
Comments (6)
put down cardboard from dumpster last fall from work ,covered with a foot of chopped yard leaves,put boxes over this barrier,scratched leaves back this spring cardboard now is cosistancy of milk soaked cereal,worms will have an easy path by warm weather to munch in my raised bed,would recomend poking holes in cardboard now if this system used now,remove packing tape,i used brown cardboard dont know if colored would hurt or not,will use municipal mulch from city for 3 foot pathways its FREE!!may screen out finer mulch particles for mulch in my beds its aged in town waste area all fall n winter,probaly add a lil n to counter act breakdown of this compost itll rob u of n then give it back,im having a ball thinking all this out n trying to b frugal,my ag background is paying off dad would b proud!
...See More
bari779
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, I have taken all the weed barrier out from under my two boxes, so am ready to go again. Thanks for the help and information!

I will just have to continually fight the Bermuda encroachment!

Thanks,
Bari
greenbean08_gw
14 years ago
I could be wrong (it's been over 10 years since I've lived with Bermuda) but I think it's not so hard to pull from nice soft soil. I remember pulling strands of it 3 or 4 feet long from my in-ground garden when I lived in Texas. I don't envy that battle though. It is persistent...I do remember that!

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener
carytom
13 years ago
I put weed barrier under my planter. Did I do wrong?

Carytom
thom8632@aol.com
eaglesgarden
13 years ago
carytom,

I wouldn't say you did "wrong". There are pros and cons to both sides. Some people around here act like weed barriers are the worst thing you can do in a garden, others not so much. They have their place.

I use it in the paths between my beds, with mulch on top. The mulch gets pulled off every two years and composted, and new mulch goes down. (this eliminates the mulch composting in place, and providing a grow medium for weeds to grow ON TOP of the barrier. This also gives me more compost on a regular basis, while not actually taking up extra space in my small yard.) But that is a fair amount of work. I like the look of the mulched walkways, and the extra compost, so I do it this way. Others prefer stone in walkways, others just grass which would be mowed. Those paths are too wide for my taste though, and just add to the mowing each week. I hate mowing!!!

As far as using weed barrier under the bed, I wouldn't say you did "wrong", but I would have used cardboard or a thick layer of newspaper. It works about the same, and breaks down so that deep loving roots can get deeper. Honestly though, it works either way. A thinner root zone for your crops just means that you have to watch the moisture level more closely (deeper roots access water at deeper levels and have more drought resistance).

There are just about as many different ways to garden as there are gardeners. Find the way that works for you.
carolynp
13 years ago
Eaglesgarden is completely right. I put down a thick layer of cardboard because I have access to free cardboard. I have to point out that the weeds will still come, even with the barrier because many seeds (grass seeds especially) are wind born. Trying to keep weeds out of dirt is like trying to sweep in the middle of a hurricane. If you put the barrier down because you don't want weeds, I'd advocate for mulch instead. If I had seen the earlier post, I'd have told the person not to pull out the weed barrier. The point to sfg is to have an enjoyable experience that will frankly get you addicted to gardening forever (at least that's my experience, your mileage may vary.)

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS Natural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden

By Abundant City

Use these techniques to help prevent the spread of weeds and to learn about your soil

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Bugle Weed, a Quick Ground Cover

It’s highly adaptable, suppresses weeds, reduces erosion and provide weeks of bright flowers. Just watch for invasiveness

GARDENING GUIDES Tackle Weeds the Natural Way

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Instead of dousing your yard with chemicals to wipe out weeds, let time and nature work their magic via smothering and solarization

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

FEEL-GOOD HOME The Question That Can Make You Love Your Home More

By Laura Gaskill

Change your relationship with your house for the better by focusing on the answer to something designers often ask

GREEN BUILDING Considering Concrete Floors? 3 Green-Minded Questions to Ask

By Melanie Loftus

Learn what’s in your concrete and about sustainability to make a healthy choice for your home and the earth

DOORS 5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Find out whether that barn door you love is the right solution for your space

MOST POPULAR 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer

By Kelli Kaufer Designs

Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start

THE HARDWORKING HOME Smart Ways to Make the Most of a Compact Kitchen

Minimal square footage is no barrier to fulfilling your culinary dreams. These tips will help you squeeze the most out of your space

FARM YOUR YARD How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants

By Annie Thornton

Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy

Sponsored

Hope Restoration & General Contracting

35 Reviews

Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations