Looking for help building planter boxes!

[CONSIDERABLE SHOUTING]

I bought a home recently and the old planter boxes are pretty dusted; they've been in their current location likely for a decade or more and now the tree canopy has encroached to the point where nothing gets enough sun to even fruit. I need to move and build new boxes, and I want some eyes on my preliminary plans:



Basically, the green box is gonna be a single, LONG planter box, MAYBE 1-2 feet in width but easily more than 20 feet long in length, maybe a foot or two above the ground. The reason for this idea, is that the sun sets in the hills directly in front of my home (effectively on the "left" of the image) and the backyard, though open, is all on a large hillside that you can see slopes down towards it- I want planters to get enough sun, but I'm worried tall plants will make the back feel too enclosed. I won't put it against the back wall because the peonies there are from the prior owner and I refuse to remove them. I feel like putting it right on the edge so there's still plenty of middle space would be good for doing whatever I intend to do with it.

My concern tho, is would it be better to have them more in the center for those issues with being enclosed? Do you feel a better design could be made? The terrace is somewhat cut off from the rest of the lawn and I could easily just plant directly into the soil there, and I can't make up my mind because I don't have a good "vision" for what I want the backyard to look like yet. Thanks so much!

 

[Matt Gruber]

I'm collecting Tidy Cat 20 liter pails(free on recycle day). Then i'll find the best location, by trial and error. Then if i want something permanent i'll know the best spot. Also i plan to drill drain holes 2" up, so they will keep water and grow better.
I'm doing a test with an 18 gal tote, and it didn't need water for 6 weeks, but now the tomato plant is big, has 10 tom and needs water every day that the sun is out here in FL

 

[marty]

Here goes my first reply with this new forum software. Working so farNow I am overwhelmed with smilies.Took me a minute to figure out, but I can move the smiley around with the mouse. Typing on a big computer here.

Boxes? Why? Just dig some holes and put plants in the holes. Roots go down. Leaves go up. Now where to get plants? Look around and find some. Dig em up and replant where ever ya want. Where are you? Different plants are better in different places. Does it rain where you are at? Start plants inside from seeds. Do you like to eat or smoke plants? Marijuana?

How to find the best place to buy plants or plumbing supplies. Go to any nursery or plumbing supply place. Ask who is the best plumber, gardener. Call that plumber, gardener, and ask where do you buy your supplies. In my neighborhood, professionals go to:

Russell's Tree and Shrub Farm LLC​

Wo the formatting is different with this new forum software. Could use that Remove formatting button. Will just leave it. Lets try a link.

Home | Russell's Tree and Shrub Farm | WNY and Buffalo's Garden Center

Garden center nursery covering WNY, Buffalo, Amherst, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Clarence, Lancaster. Carrying trees, shrubs, flowers and more.

russellsny.com

Go to a nursery and get some design help from a real garden design person. Bring that picture ya took and a top view pencil or computer drawing so the design person can show you where to plant the plants.

Now to try inserting a sample garden plan picture picture. Don't forget the 5 Ps. Proper Planing Prevents Poor Performance.

No preview button? Guess I just hit the post reply button.

 

[marty]

Put a link like shown below, and this crazy software changed it.
https://russellsny.com/
Where is the preview button?

 

[Matt Gruber]

My new neighbor told me about the ultimate planter. He put it on wheels
at first i said yea, sure.
Then my other neighbor threw out an old rusted hand truck. i put some oil on the wheels, and put the 18 gal bin on it a week ago. had 25 mph wind tearing up the plant, moved it to the south garage wall. then 2 days later it got real hot, so i moved it 2' from the wall. Tomato plant is growing best ever, so i added another cutting, but it needs shade while it grows roots. Turned the bin so the big plant shades it.
So i'm going to collect wheeled items on trash day, and make platforms so i can move the plants. will be real handy when we get a cold front, will roll them into the garage to avoid frost.

 

[CONSIDERABLE SHOUTING]

Boxes? Why? Just dig some holes and put plants in the holes. Roots go down. Leaves go up. Now where to get plants? Look around and find some. Dig em up and replant where ever ya want. Where are you? Different plants are better in different places. Does it rain where you are at? Start plants inside from seeds. Do you like to eat or smoke plants? Marijuana?

[...]

Go to a nursery and get some design help from a real garden design person. Bring that picture ya took and a top view pencil or computer drawing so the design person can show you where to plant the plants.

KISS principle eh? Makes sense, I had been gathering a lot of details on the "Lasagna method" that I planned to do for the boxes and just planting them straight in the ground would seriously cut down on the work and "boxed in" feeling I was hoping to avoid.
I know of several horticulture places like that, so I'll head there soon to get their opinions. From you tho, would it make sense to till up the soil underneath before planting to free up the soil? Or should I largely leave it alone so I don't wreck it's natural state? Grass never seemed to grow well on that terrace due to the sun exposure, but I'm now thinking that's not the only problem.

 

[marty]

"Lasagna method"

? Why?

Go here to see Marty's compost piles.

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endless-sphere.com

Just throw whatever ya got in a pile or a bin. Come back in a few years and you will have compost.

Re: till up the soil underneath before planting to free up the soil? Sure if ya want to. Don't thinks the plant care. Cover the ground with wood chips to keep the moisture in. DO NOT buy colored wood chips in a plastic bag. That's retarded. Like most other stuff, wood chips come in a dump truck. What I do. Have 12 bottles of beer ready in the refrigerator. When you hear chain saws and a chipper truck near the house. Trade 12 bottles of beer for a truck load of wood chips.

Here the town gives away wood chips for free. I transport in garbage cans.

 

[CONSIDERABLE SHOUTING]

Eh, it was just an idea. One part that I liked, was starting to enrich the soil by layering cardboard on top before planting.
Already got the compost from last year, also got plenty of wood chips for the mulch.

 

[tomjasz]

Eh, it was just an idea. One part that I liked, was starting to enrich the soil by layering cardboard on top before planting.
Already got the compost from last year, also got plenty of wood chips for the mulch.

Wood chips suck nutrients. I keep them out of my veg garden. And some can be allelopathic.

 

[tomjasz]

My gardens are all raised beds. And make culture and care easier. They’re bench high and really easy for an old guy to maintain without groveling on the ground.

 

[marty]

Start plants inside from seeds.

Also lots of plants can be started from cuttings.

 

[e-beach]

Science has finally gotten around to understand what nature has know from the beginning. Layering your garden plot is more beneficial then digging it up all the time. Farmers are now using to keep their soil in good shape. No-till farming - Wikipedia

I went to an organic farm once and saw that some weeds were growing among their peas. The farmers replay was, "are you kidding? That soil!" in other words, they compost the weeds along side with everything else. Weeds have long roots and pull up nutrients from deeper down then most garden vegetables. If you want to keep weeds down around you plants simply put mulch around the base of your plants. It helps to keep the weeds down until harvest.

Making compost is easy in theory but work in practice. You will have to do some shoveling. As stated above take all your garden waist and put it into a pile. Cover it and let it sit. Keep it moist so what ever is braking it down can have water to live. If you want it to break down into fine matter, get a shovel and turn it every month or so. Once finished I use a heavy mesh screen attached to a 2.5 x 2.5 foot frame that I put over a wheel barrel and shake the compost through the screen to brake up any clumps and screen out any twigs.

My 2¢

 

[Matt Gruber]

i don't see that weeds need composting.
i collected weeds, grass, leaves, some decay from the woods
and put them in the 18 gal bin with my worst anemic tomato plant, that appeared to have root knot in 1/3 of the root. i broke off just the bad root and stuck it in the bin with 2" water. 2 mos later it is beautiful and has not had any flowers drop off. i just pinched off 4 tom as there are going to be too many, and i want bigger and fewer, as i have my doubts that this can work out long term. (i'm as big a skeptic as you)
i have been adding more dead weeds after baking them in the sun 1 day to kill nematodes. i did add 1t fertilizer , but that is almost nothing for a plant this size.

 

[CONSIDERABLE SHOUTING]

I'm gonna have to be careful looking into permaculture methods, 'cause if I go too deep I'll hyperfixate and never get anything done Right now I'm leaning towards mixing my bagged, bought topsoil, compost, and leaf mould together and spreading it on the area to help bulk it up, covering with cardboard to trap it all in (though it seems like maybe, do the cardboard layer first, then the soil? I doubt I have enough) to keep moisture and warmth in before planting anything. I prefer the permaculture principle but I'll look for natural flowers more than just the natural weeds in this area. I have plenty of nettles and things, so that shouldn't be too hard.

 

[CONSIDERABLE SHOUTING]

My gardens are all raised beds. And make culture and care easier. They’re bench high and really easy for an old guy to maintain without groveling on the ground.

I'm not counting planter boxes out yet! But I won't lie, not having to build something or spend money sounds really nice at this point lol

 

[marty]

covering with cardboard to trap it all in (though it seems like maybe, do the cardboard layer first, then the soil? I doubt I have enough)

New Xenforo trick. Highlight text, Little reply box appears below. Click on it.

If you put cardboard on top of the soil. Might get moles and mice running around under the cardboard. I know that because I used to be a mole in one of my past lives. Enough cardboard? Do you not know where to find cardboard? Cardboard is everywhere and it's free.

Layers?????? Best way to make compost. Grind everything up. Think wood chipper. Or hoe.

Marty's no labor compost making method. Just throw it all in a pile and use time to make it decompose.

 

[CONSIDERABLE SHOUTING]

Layers?????? Best way to make compost. Grind everything up. Think wood chipper. Or hoe.

I'm not doing layers of things, I'm talking about using cardboard as a form of mulch to keep water in the soil. I can get it all for free from the hospital, we literally produce pounds of the stuff per hour.
As for the vermin, that I don't know. I might bury chicken wire on one side to help keep moles away, because on the opposite side are stairs broken up by a stone terrace- unless they dig "up" or "down" several feet, there's only one way they can get in. As for mice... well, I'd have to use weights to keep all the cardboard from being blown away anyway.

 

[marty]

Don't worry about mice, moles, bugs, worms, or any animals. All creatures except humans are good for the environment.

Why do some humans not like rats?

Have you heard that scientists have been using lawyers instead of rats for laboratory experiments? ~~~~~~ Yes it's because there are some things that even rats won't do.

hospital

HOSPITAL. Think of all the food that gets thrown away. That would make some serious compost! Might get a little stinky? Add some cardboard, sticks, leaves and stuff.

My idea. Think food waste might make good food for pigs? Use leftover people food to feed pigs. Feed pigs to humans.

Marty says - Compost is like money in the bank. Just keep saving it. Ya can't have too much.

 

[Matt Gruber]

i gave up on my compost bin, too many flies.
i like fresh pulled weeds way better. plant has 7 clusters of 30 flowers each cluster. it really likes weeds too.

 

[e-beach]

i gave up on my compost bin, too many flies.
.....

Don't put any food in the compost unless you really bury it. Grass and leaves and moisture ='s no fly's.

 

[Matt Gruber]

Don't put any food in the compost unless you really bury it. Grass and leaves and moisture ='s no fly's.

i still pile up the sycamore leaves when available. right now i'm almost out of weeds because almost no rain past 2 months. even they can't grow. the oak tree is losing its' leaves so they are the #1 filler for my tidy cat planters.
Lady neighbor grows lots of plants and i see her every day with a shovel. she buries kitchen scraps in a new spot each time. she just turned 99. eats pasta, and toast w/coffee

 

[Matt Gruber]

bed that moves