Fancy looking gardens?

alicorn2 3/4/2010, 9:20 pm

Hi all! I've just read the book cover to cover and am all excited to get started. However, the pretty looking boxes on the cover of the book with their corner posts interest me much more than just a plain box. I tried searching the old forum when I first registered a day or two ago and didn't find anything.... are there any directions for building something fancier than a plain box?

Thanks!

boffer 3/4/2010, 9:39 pm

Hi,

The vinyl boxes are for sale on the website, this link will get you started:

http://squarefootgardening.mybisi.com/products/A--Garden-Box-Kits_214548/?page1

Vinyl/composite woods are worked similarly to wood, but they are more expensive. Figure what you want to build and buy the materials. Start with Lowes and H.D. for basic materials.

alicorn2 3/4/2010, 10:34 pm

Thanks for the link! Whew, those are a bit expensive (and I'm sure shipping will be high, too).... but I guess that makes sense for what they are.

Maybe I'll see if any of the people I know who do woodworking would build me something. The plain, square boxes are about as much as I could do on my own without very simple instructions Smile

**WardinWake** 3/4/2010, 10:55 pm

Howdy and welcome to the SFG family.

I like the fancy looking boxes myself. Mine are about as plane as can be. Most made from "found" materials and sometimes it takes several boards to make up the length that I need. The plants don't seem to care though.

God Bless, Ward.

happyfrog 3/5/2010, 8:10 am

i think if you had the time and inclination, you could wander the aisles of lowe's//homedepot and see what kind of fence post options are available and cut those down to size to be corner posts. . .just an idea.

i must agree with wardinwake though - our plants don't care what they're in as long as it's good mix and we remember to water them occasionally. Smile

Patty from Yorktown 3/5/2010, 11:58 am

Hi,
Instead of having just plane boxes, a number of my boxes are painted bright colors. I also set my garden on a diagonal setting. A quilter would use the term on point. It drives my Mother in law batty, as the design is not an efficient use of space. She has pointed out a number of times how much more space I could have if I just squared up my boxes. I think it was Don who described my garden as a crayon box. I like it. If I get time this summer I want to paint lady bugs on some of my plane boxes. Pick what works for you.

Patty from Yorktown

boffer 3/5/2010, 12:35 pm

It was me, and I think you should post the picture again because it's unique.

boffer 3/5/2010, 12:42 pm

This forum has the ability to post a picture from one's computer rather than a picture website host, if that is more convenient. I'm finalizing the procedure in this thread,

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/general-sfg-talk-f5/this-thread-is-for-practicing-posting-t31.htm

about 6 posts down. I'll make it a separate thread, when I'm done.

jerzyjen 3/5/2010, 12:52 pm

Oooo I definately want to see Patty from Yorktowns diagonal boxes.

martha 3/5/2010, 1:01 pm

me, too!

happyfrog 3/5/2010, 1:41 pm

waiting eagerly to see the crayon boxes!! Smile

catnip 3/5/2010, 3:45 pm

Being both a quilter and a gardener, I'm definitely looking forward to the post. mad

Kabaju42 3/5/2010, 4:05 pm

Patty from Yorktown wrote:Hi,
Instead of having just plane boxes, a number of my boxes are painted bright colors. I also set my garden on a diagonal setting. A quilter would use the term on point. It drives my Mother in law batty, as the design is not an efficient use of space. She has pointed out a number of times how much more space I could have if I just squared up my boxes. I think it was Don who described my garden as a crayon box. I like it. If I get time this summer I want to paint lady bugs on some of my plane boxes. Pick what works for you.

Patty from Yorktown

It's nice to hear that I won't be the only one with diagonal boxes. I was going to do several long rows, but I decided that it would be too boring (and too much like single row gardening). Go ahead and post your picture, and I'll post a pic of my diagonal boxes Once I get them done.

**timwardell** 3/5/2010, 5:29 pm

alicorn2 wrote:Hi all! I've just read the book cover to cover and am all excited to get started. However, the pretty looking boxes on the cover of the book with their corner posts interest me much more than just a plain box. I tried searching the old forum when I first registered a day or two ago and didn't find anything.... are there any directions for building something fancier than a plain box?

You can buy post caps at Lowes & Home Depot.
See - http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=post+cap&x=0&y=0 (if the link doesn't work, just go to lowes.com and do a search for "post caps." All you would need is a 4x4 (or two 2x4's nailed together) in the corners of your boxes (although you would loose some valuable real-estate in the corners).
- Tim

SirTravers 3/5/2010, 11:43 pm

I just got a gardeners supply catalogue that has Galvanized steel Boxes for raised beds. Reminds me of the watering troughs under the windmills that are everywhere out here in my area.

alicorn2 3/9/2010, 12:34 am

I'm interested to see the diagonal boxes!

My husband went ahead and built me three plain half-size boxes this weekend (4x2) to have on the patio to see how it works for me... and so I can have it right near the door so I won't forget to water! I'm not sure if they'll get enough sun there, so we'll see if I have to move them. (Built with bottoms for just that reason.) He made them out of cedar so they should last a long time. I've tracked down the vermiculite so I just have to go and pick it up now, and then gather up some compost. And then I'll have 24 squares to decide what to plant!

carolintexas 3/10/2010, 10:38 pm

I can hardly wait to see pics of fancy gardens and plain and everything in between! RE: galvanized boxes...interesting....would that eliminate most insect problems? Where I live we will have 3 or 4 weeks of over 100 degree days...I wonder if plants would just bake in a galvanized box but I am concerned about insects ...I don't want the bad insects but I don't want to use chemicals to get rid of them. Re: insects...I may be worrying too much in advance since this will be my first SFG.

Patty from Yorktown 3/13/2010, 10:01 pm

Here is too hoping I can follow directions. I am not holding my breath.
Patty from Yorktown

boffer 3/13/2010, 10:08 pm

HOORAY you did! Now you know how to post the rest of them!

Patty from Yorktown 3/13/2010, 10:14 pm

Well that was a pleasant surprise. Now I think I know what I did I will try to do it again. The above picture/post is my garden. It is on the side of my house, looking toward my backyard. This next picture should be looking toward the front of my house, still along the property line. As you can tell I have children (2 boys.) I have tried to make the garden a fun place for them to be in.

Fancy looking gardens? Img_0212

This should be an other view of the side yard.

Fancy looking gardens? Img_0213

Earlier this spring I had to replace some boxes, so the yellow box is now a dull weathered brown. I hope to change that. I also cannot find my more current photos, as my garden has grown by a few boxes. When I get my spring planting done I will update my photos. Enjoy.

Patty from Yorktown

alicorn2 3/13/2010, 10:37 pm

That looks great! I really like how you've set them on angles so that your path between the boxes zigzags towards the playground.

Picked up our vermiculite today - I gave up and went with medium grade. Just need to get a couple more types of compost (found 3 at the verm. store) and mix it all up tomorrow! I'm making my grids out of bamboo!

carolintexas 3/14/2010, 4:11 am

Patty, What a wonderful garden! I love that red ladder...cute idea. Thank you for the photos. Every picture I see just encourages me all the more. This will be my first year to SFG. I had not considered painting my boxes but now I might because yours are so cheerful. Thanks again...Carol

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	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.