weed block/sand/mel's mix order...need advice

swripley 4/23/2010, 7:42 pm

Okay, I lost a couple of weeks to an insane work schedule but I am back on track and ready for a full weekend of work. Fortunately, I am still a couple of weeks ahead of our freeze date so I still have time.

For aesthetic reason and due to the proximately to the driveway, I have decided on a double layer of 1x6 for my box sides. This will result in 10” deep boxes. I know I won’t require that depth of Mel’s mix so I am planning a putting a layer of sand in the bottom of the boxes (at $20 for a pick up load, much cheaper.) I have already cleared the grass from the area I am placing my four beds. I am going to use pea gravel in the walkways so plan to cover the entire area with one solid section of weed block to prevent grass and such growing up around my beds and keep walkways tidy. I will then place my boxes on top of the weed block, fill with sand and then Mel's mix. My question…can I put the Mel’s mix right on top of the sand or should I place a second layer of weed block (or something else to seperate) on top of the sand before I put my Mel’s mix in? The only the only problem I foresee without seperating is if I every need to take the Mel's Mix out for any reason. I might end up with a bit of sand in it but can't imagine that would be such a big deal. What do you think?

Thanks for the feedback.

Patty from Yorktown 4/23/2010, 8:26 pm

Hi,
It would be simple and cheap to put a layer of newspaper between your mix and the sand. If you are making more than one box you might want to fill a deep box for flexibility in planting root crops. Enjoy your weekend gardening.

Patty from Yorktown

Wyldflower 4/23/2010, 11:14 pm

It's probably a good idea to put either newspaper or cardboard - or another layer of weed-block cloth between the sand and the Mel's Mix... that will keep the mix from settling down between the grains of sand.

Retired Member 1 4/24/2010, 2:42 am

If you don't put weed barrier between the Mel's mix and sand, you'll end up "losing" the Mel's mix down into the sand. It's too expensive to allow that to happen.

Sponsored content

weed block/sand/mel's mix order...need advice

weed block/sand/mel's mix order...need advice

Re: weed block/sand/mel's mix order...need advice

Re: weed block/sand/mel's mix order...need advice

Re: weed block/sand/mel's mix order...need advice

Re: weed block/sand/mel's mix order...need advice


	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.