Just found this lovely site

bkrieb 5/18/2020, 3:06 pm

Hello! My name is Bev and I am just starting to learn about gardening. I am in the process of changing my side yard into a flower garden with a walk and a seating area. so excited!! Glad to have found this site Smile

I would like to ask my first question: my soil brought in will be a 80/20 mix (topsoil/compost) a good mix???

I am planning on using what was referred to as the lasagna technique.
The plan is to mow very low, put down newspaper/cardboard and soak. Cover with topsoil/compost and top with mulch.
Let the planting begin Smile

**sanderson** 5/18/2020, 4:05 pm

Hi, Bev.

A flower garden is a wonderful attraction in a yard. The preparation method you described is not Square Foot Gardening but it should work for what you are wanting. The key is compost as the microbes break it down into nutrients for the plants. Keep amending with more compost each planting or each fall and spring.

SFG uses framed beds (wood boxes, large stone, logs, large bricks, etc., topped with square foot grids. The fill is only 1/3 coarse vermiculite, 1/3 fluffed peat moss and 1/3 compost blend from different types of compost. More compost is added each time the beds are planted.

Have you had a chance to look at the 80/20 mix before buying? Some of the stuff touted as top soil is filled with rocks/trash. Just a caution.

mollyhespra 5/18/2020, 10:58 pm

Hi, Bev and welcome!

Yes to everything Sanderson said, and you might also want to pick up a copy of Mel's book because I'm guessing after you get started with the flowers it's not going to end there. Pretty soon you'll be adding beds everywhere and growing your own veggies!
Lots of good knowledgeable folks on this forum who will be more than happy to enable you in your gardening pursuits! Again, welcome!

**AtlantaMarie** 5/19/2020, 6:38 am

Hi Bev. Let me add a welcome from Atlanta, GA! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with your side yard/flowers...

OhioGardener 5/19/2020, 2:24 pm

What Sanderson & Molly said.... Very Happy

Looking forward to you sharing your progress with us.

**Scorpio Rising** 5/19/2020, 6:08 pm

Welcome, Bev! Looking forward to hearing about your journey! When you can, mosey on over to the N&C Midwest thread, where folks from our area share ideas common to our climate, challenges, etc. But feel free to wander wherever you want!

$glad you\'re here$

bkrieb 5/21/2020, 5:50 pm

To all...
smiles... I am going to be some piece of work... I cant even find the individual reply button for a per person answer lol
all good, I am thanking each of you for welcoming me to the group.
I am at a stop for a minute as new concepts have been suggested.. (considering a pondless waterfall). so to do this I need to rethink my layout before I start!
I will post when enough info has been gathered and a decision has been made. SOOOOO super excited now lol I love this idea.
Thanks again,
Bev

**sanderson** 5/21/2020, 6:59 pm

bkrieb wrote:To all...
smiles... I am going to be some piece of work... I cant even find the individual reply button for a per person answer lol . . . Thanks again,
Bev

I misunderstood what you wanted to learn. To reply to an individual's statement, click the Quote button, delete any non-pertinent material, and type your reply after the last bracketed quote.

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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.