| Many people love square foot gardening because | | | | can mix flowers, vegetables, or herbs in each |
| they can get so much beauty from a small space. | | | | square foot. It doesn't hurt to mix the plants, as |
| You can build a square foot garden following an | | | | they will each be planted in their own square foot |
| exact square foot layout, or you can garden using | | | | space. You should plant only 2 or 3 seeds per |
| a square foot layout and put a few square feet | | | | hole; it doesn't take much to make a beautiful |
| together to make a larger space for vegetables | | | | garden. |
| and other larger plants. Here are the basics of | | | | When you water, use a bucket of sun-warmed |
| what you will need to develop a small Square | | | | water and water gently by hand. The seeds are |
| Foot Garden of your own. | | | | very delicate at first, and you don't want to just |
| You will need to build or buy boxes that sit above | | | | spray them with a hose and send them flying all |
| the ground to hold your soil and plants. If you are | | | | over the place. |
| using more than one box, space them 3' apart so | | | | Then, sit back and watch everything grow. At |
| you can walk in between them. You don't want to | | | | harvest time enjoy the fruits of your labor, or |
| ever step inside the box and damage your plants. | | | | the beauty of your garden, and then when |
| Place your boxes in an area that gets 6 - 8 hours | | | | everything is done blooming and growing, add |
| of sunshine daily, and it should sit somewhere | | | | fresh compost and replant new crops. |
| close to the house so you can water often. | | | | Note: Square foot gardens do not always have to |
| Because you are working with small spaces, you | | | | be exactly square. You can get creative and add |
| may have to water more often than you do | | | | a little flair by using an Octagon shape, or even |
| your larger garden. | | | | round (although round is going to be harder to |
| The soil mixture should consist of 1/3 part | | | | work with). And, you can also add some small |
| compost, 1/3 part peat moss and 1/3 coarse | | | | garden art pieces to make it more pleasing to |
| vermiculite. | | | | look at while your plants are young. It's up to you |
| Remember that your garden will be arranged in | | | | whether you leave the art in as the plants grow. |
| squares, not rows (it's a little deceiving because if | | | | Some people find that when their flowers start to |
| you do it right, and all of your squares are the | | | | bloom, they like to see the natural look and will |
| same size, it will look like you have rows. First, lay | | | | take the garden art out. Others just enjoy the |
| out your garden in 4' by 4' areas, then make a | | | | beauty of it all. |
| square foot grid on the top and start separating | | | | It's your garden, and now you should have |
| them into 1' sections. | | | | enough information to make it enjoyable for |
| Depending on what you like to eat, or view, you | | | | years to come! |