creating grids

Is 1x2 cedar an ok choice in grid. I want to have weed fabric as a cover with slits for plants. I was then thinking of having 1/4" drip line placed on top. Any thoughts?

I personally do not use the wood grid as Mel uses in his book. I use cotton twine/string and hooks on the edge boards to make my grid. I have so little a problem with weeds that I don't need a weed cover on top.

I can't speak to the drip system since I am still hand watering my three boxes.

Good luck with what ever you decide

2" might encroach on your growing space. Is there any cedar available that's like 1"x1/2"?

I don't use wood because of the loss of growing space. I use nylon tomato twine which will last thru the rains without rotting, so I can't help you, I'm sorry.

Sorry I am no help either. I use Bright orange string ( it was in the shed and therefore paid for ) and some small eye hooks.

Looks like string is "in"! I use twine, since I already had it. Eventually I'll run out after replacing it over time...then I'll get nylon. This twine is too weak, so it breaks really easily.

I did't use wood either. I put in screws at the one foot markers and then just used cooking string I had in a drawer wrapped around each screw a few times and then across... wrap.. move down... wrap... across... Could do a whole bed and only tie off at two places. Also if a string breaks I can just undo a loop or two around the screw and I have enough to tie the string back together (which I've only had to do once in three weeks).

I didn't use wood the first year and used string as others have mentioned. But have upgraded to wood and it looks MUCH better.

Also used 1x2 wood and will put dowels in to hold them down for the summer and take them off in the late fall.

Grids don't make anything grow any better but I will send you pics tomorrow of string vs wood and you can decide

I would use something smaller as you would lose a fair amount of planting space using 2" wide grids. I bought the smallest, cheapest untreated slats I could find at Home Depot.

String would be very simple...and maximize planting area.

I use onions and garlic

Thanks all for your informative comments! I'm just starting to mix mels mix so I'll ponder it for a while. This too is my first sqare foot garden and I'm excited to get going!

Not sure if you guys get them there but I used the plastic coated tomato stakes to make a grid for my box. Just cut them to length, tied them together with wire and then sprayed them white for a high visibility grid, I figured the green would blend in too much!

They don't take up as much room as timber and won't have to be replaced regularly like string. But then I know some of you prefer the string because you have to shut down over winter and it's easy to remove and do bed maintenance but I don't have that issue in my temperate climate.

givvmistamps wrote:Looks like string is "in"! I use twine, since I already had it. Eventually I'll run out after replacing it over time...then I'll get nylon. This twine is too weak, so it breaks really easily.

Michelle ,

I've been using neoprene rubber 1/8 inch thick to make the grids and placed the anchor tag inside the boxes.

Last night I realized that the neoprene ruibber might not last too many years and came up with this idea using garden strimmer / grass whip nylon line as it is tough as old boots and is cheap ...yes CHEAP & does not die in the first season .

I've drilled three holes in the top of an 8 inch long seed marker tag , two just a bit bigger than the line and one in between the two small holes three times as big and threaded the line through ..it's easy to adjust as well , any spare line that you may have & like to retain can be wrapped around one of the markers ..

Like the neoprene one's I've used in my beds they do not have to be exactly /directly against the walls of the box either an inch or so short will still give the general outline of the squares .

Should you want to take them out at anytime it's a simple case of pull them up and wind the line around the pair of tags

jevans wrote:Is 1x2 cedar an ok choice in grid. I want to have weed fabric as a cover with slits for plants. I was then thinking of having 1/4" drip line placed on top. Any thoughts?

You might like to think of making the weed supressor fabric into 13 inch square then pegging it down at each corner with gal wires instead of a big 4 x 4 foot square with slots as it will be more manageable and can be removed as your root crops get growing and need harvesting.

You can also then have a varied number of pre marked cut squares of 5 , 9 & 16 holes /slots to play with that can be moved around as you develop the beds/beds. One big sheet per ANSFG will restrictg your planning for sowing and planting quite severely.

Thanks Plantoid, great point! I'll cut out individual squares and make the slits ahead of time for the plants. Sweet!!

WolfHeart wrote:I personally do not use the wood grid as Mel uses in his book. I use cotton twine/string and hooks on the edge boards to make my grid. I have so little a problem with weeds that I don't need a weed cover on top.

I can't speak to the drip system since I am still hand watering my three boxes.

Good luck with what ever you decide

I have one of Mel's grids but found that string is a lot cheaper and works just as well. (Sorry, Mel!)

quiltbea wrote:I don't use wood because of the loss of growing space. I use nylon tomato twine which will last thru the rains without rotting, so I can't help you, I'm sorry.

Are you using your grid to play croquet?
Seriously, what do you use the odd looking white things for?

plantoid wrote:

givvmistamps wrote:Looks like string is "in"! I use twine, since I already had it. Eventually I'll run out after replacing it over time...then I'll get nylon. This twine is too weak, so it breaks really easily.

Michelle ,

I've been using neoprene rubber 1/8 inch thick to make the grids and placed the anchor tag inside the boxes.

Last night I realized that the neoprene ruibber might not last too many years and came up with this idea using garden strimmer / grass whip nylon line as it is tough as old boots and is cheap ...yes CHEAP & does not die in the first season .

I've drilled three holes in the top of an 8 inch long seed marker tag , two just a bit bigger than the line and one in between the two small holes three times as big and threaded the line through ..it's easy to adjust as well , any spare line that you may have & like to retain can be wrapped around one of the markers ..

Like the neoprene one's I've used in my beds they do not have to be exactly /directly against the walls of the box either an inch or so short will still give the general outline of the squares .

Should you want to take them out at anytime it's a simple case of pull them up and wind the line around the pair of tags

That looks like the stuff kids braid to make bracelets out of! We have a ton of it in the craft closet...hmmmmm....I may have to raid the craft closet since the boys never got into braiding the stuff!

Another cheap method of marking squares I just thought of yesterday is getting bamboo sticks and tying them together. You can get a six-pack of bamboo for around $2 locally. Bamboo is durable, and I think it'd be kind of pretty. Using the stuff Plantoid came up with, it'd last a long time without having to re-tie it together, too.

Bamboo tends to split after while and make fantastic homes for all sorts of bug that are " Public enemy No 1 " to your plants and beds

I know a lot of people mentioned string, but I'm not sure this was brought up. I use construction string. It is cheap and found in the tool section of your local hardware/big box store. I used neon pink, but it comes in several EASY to see shades (pink, green, yellow, blue). It's nylon and works well just wrapped around some small brads I had in the fastener bin. It will also stand up to the elements and probably be reusable ( 1st time SFGer)

I use cedar shims. Turn them on their side and push it in. One end is tapered almost paper thin and can easily be snapped to fit. If I want to add a bunch of compost all at once, just lift the pieces then put it back. It comes in a bundle at Home Depot, think around $3.00(?) Once the plants grow you can't tell that the squares aren't perfectly straight. You can see the shims full size to the right of the box. I love it cause the cedar does last, it is rediculously low tech, there are no screws, nails, or tools to fuss with. And just about every inch of available growing space is used.

Grandpop wrote:

quiltbea wrote:I don't use wood because of the loss of growing space. I use nylon tomato twine which will last thru the rains without rotting, so I can't help you, I'm sorry.

Are you using your grid to play croquet?
Seriously, what do you use the odd looking white things for?

Oh I can answer that! quiltbea has shown us before how she bends open old wire clothes hangers to use as mini hoops. She uses clothes pins to secure cheese cloth to the hangers. Then she can cover just a square or two, wherever she needs to. Cool huh?

Grandpop wrote:

quiltbea wrote:I don't use wood because of the loss of growing space. I use nylon tomato twine which will last thru the rains without rotting, so I can't help you, I'm sorry.

Are you using your grid to play croquet?
Seriously, what do you use the odd looking white things for?

Croquet!!!! GrandPop thanks for my laugh of the day But if I recall correctly, she wisely uses those to drape a cover over the plants.