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Square Foot Gardening

raised beds for sfg

18 years ago

I am planning on building raised beds for my vegetable garden. I was thinking rather than making them 4x4 I would make them 4x12 leaving a 3 foot path around them.

I was going to use 2x10x12's. I was wondering also what would be the effect of putting a fine wire mesh on the bottom of each bed to keep the gophers out, any opinions, thoughts or suggestions.

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Comments (6)

username_5
18 years ago
If you have gopher problems the wire mesh is a terrific idea. Shouldn't stop roots of veggies/flowers.

Sounds like a nice set up you are planning.
geosprouter
Original Author
18 years ago
The wire mesh will help with the gophers, then the next step is a 8 to 10 fench to stop the deer. Poor vegetables will feel like they are in prison. :)
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Jacque_E_TX
18 years ago
Heh, "protective custody" sounds ever so much better....

Just remember to put a lid on it. Where the raccoons don't eat, kitties might seek relief.

Oh, for really--a short fence 4 feet out from a taller fence makes a good deer barrier. The theory is that they don't want to try for the big leap from inside the confined space. But what really works is to put a nice big doghouse in there and leave Rover to roam around in the ring!

True story. Lady got a big ole Lab-mix dog to protect her garden from thieving birds. It worked great! That dog let the birds drink his water, eat his food, and perch on his paws as he snoozed. The garden was safe, but it cost her a fortune in dry dog food.
magnolias4ever
18 years ago
Th e 4x12 size sounds great :) Mine are 8' long. And the wire on the bottom is great to keep out your gophers. Enjoy your garden!!
gumby_ct
18 years ago
I started slowly but didn't know about SFG or really what the outcome would be. I thought I was making raised beds - first 1, then another, then another, then found out about SFG. Most all are 4x4 a few a slightly longer. Some are made of 1" thick wood, most 5-6" high. But being only 4ft, I don't notice any warping problem. The good thing - I can make them in the garage and easily carry them to the garden. ALL are frames simply placed on the ground.

Since it is getting late I will be brief, and say only if you are making "frames", as I did when starting out they don't really need to be 12-18" high. What I didn't realize - unless you have sun directly overhead and/or fill your frames completely with soil - you will likely find that the frame will shade your seedlings until they can peek over the edge of the frame. If you make them 4-5" high you can add (stack) another frame on top of the current frame to make it deeper when you add soil or compost.

I have another post on this forum where I detailed how I made my frames. I am a firm believer in using whatever you have access to or "on hand". If you have to spend money - it adds to the Cost of Gardening (CoG). Get creative - there are NO rules, only guidelines. Think outside the box - just do NOT step in it. Me - I have to think outside cuz they won't let me in the box.
Whatever YOU decide -
Best of Luck,
GumbyCT

Here is a link that might be useful: Borders for Bed Gardening
lucia_ca
18 years ago
I too, laid 1/4 inch aviary wire beneath my raised bed to keep the gophers out...and guess what? ....something dug its way up about a couple of inches from the edge of the bed, and then climbed into it!...... Reading a page on Integrated Pest Management has made me decide to lay stepping stones on top of the edge of the aviary wire and between the beds.......that way, if a gopher is attracted to the area by the roots that make their way past the aviary wire, they cannot come up close by (b/c the stepping stones are too heavy) and then climb in.

good luck!

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