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Ground not entirely level? Toplef10Ground not entirely level? 1zd3ho10

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.

Ground not entirely level? I22gcj10Ground not entirely level? 14dhcg10

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Ground not entirely level?

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Chopper
elliephant
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Post  elliephant 9/24/2010, 4:03 pm

I had to move one of my boxes between summer and fall plantings because it turned out that it just wasn't level enough in that spot and I was losing Mel's Mix out the bottom of the box.

Anyone else dealt with this problem? Any simple tips. I don't want to do anything involving heavy equipment or anything like that...we're just in a rental house.

TIA!
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Post  Chopper 9/24/2010, 4:59 pm

I have an excess of rocks in my soil - have collected buckets of them - so anything like that I fill in any open spaces with rocks. A homemade narrow sandbag would probably serve the same purpose. It depends if pretty is a factor or not.

Ooo, ooo aren't there door things - those things that are supposed to stop drafts at the bottoms of doors - just decorative sandbags?
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Post  acara 9/24/2010, 8:49 pm

Wall insulation (the blue panel stuff), used carpet padding & kids floor mat are usually my "el cheapo" solution to that problem.

Ground not entirely level? Dow20Blue20Foam

Compresses, lightweight and easy to handle, easy to cut to size, easy to punch holes in for drainage. I used it all the time to level water features in ponds.

I went "exotic" *(read as expensive and stupid) on my SFG and put down those "envirolite" mats the level out the spot. They worked well, but no better than my former "el cheapo" methods .... and they cost more than building the SFG box did Embarassed
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Post  boffer 9/24/2010, 8:58 pm

If I understand the problem correctly..

Put down the box, then the weedblock inside the box. Fold the cloth up inside the box walls to keep the soil from escaping.
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Post  elliephant 9/24/2010, 9:19 pm

I was wondering if the weedblock would help that way...I had DH pick up a staple gun on the way home. I'll trying that in the morning.
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Post  acara 9/25/2010, 4:25 am

Elliephant ...

Can you take a pic?

That may help us fine-tune our suggestion to fix yr problem.




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Post  elliephant 9/25/2010, 9:31 am

Ground not entirely level? 100_3869

This is the best picture I can get right now (taken from the window right beside my computer, lol). It's too wet outside and DH is training Cub Scout leaders right now so I can't get out without 3 little ones following and getting all muddy!

The cardboard is my initial attempt to fill in the gaps. I think this plus stapling the new weed block up the sides will probably do it, although I am pondering the weather stripping idea, as we do just happen to have some of that lying around! The weed block that's down now is recycled stuff that has a few holes in it, but I figured better to put it down underneath than in the trash.
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Post  acara 9/25/2010, 10:00 am

That helps a lot.

The pieces of foam or old carpet patches (if you find someplace ripping out carpet, they will give it to you free ....also the carpet stores sometimes have remnants from cutting that they are happy to part with) on the outside edges will work, as well as flipping the frame up and stapling the fabric to the inside of the frame (don't pull it too tight...leave yourself some slack if you can.

There is also the wet-newspaper trick on the inside of the box.

Only other things I can think of are all labor intensive or expensive (or possibly toxic) ...and thats probably not what yr looking for Very Happy
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Post  pattipan 9/25/2010, 12:23 pm

Our SFG is on a slight slope -- sort of slopes two different directions, actually. We did two different things to make the boxes sit level. We either dug down into ground and removed dirt... or we flipped thick layers of sod from one area to another. Some needed more work than others. Some have settled and need fixing next spring.

When you are looking up at our garden you see more of the box at the bottom. Look at the box on the right corner, you can see how the top is sort of sitting back in the ground.

Ground not entirely level? 1sfgse10

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Post  elliephant 9/27/2010, 1:28 pm

Here's my filled box. I stapled the weed cloth and it seems good so far! Thanks, everyone, for all the ideas and suggestions. This forum is great!
Ground not entirely level? 100_3871

And, just because I can't resist. Here are some pictures of my littlest helper (you can see my second littlest running past in the other pic). He LOVES to play outside and get all dirty! It's going to be quite the challenge keeping him out of my boxes, especially as the seedlings get established.
Ground not entirely level? 100_3876
Ground not entirely level? 100_3870
Ground not entirely level? 100_3873
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Post  Old Hippie 9/27/2010, 2:11 pm

Ellie, love the one of your little guy with the shovel! Tooooo cute!

GK
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Post  elliephant 9/27/2010, 2:31 pm

I think he agrees with Mel that it's better to just use a trowel. He was getting so frustrated trying to pick that thing up. He LOVES to dig in the SFG with his trowel! First thing he does when he goes outside is look for a trowel. I'm have to keep them out of reach now that I'm planting.
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Post  Chopper 9/27/2010, 2:38 pm

You need a 2X2 that he can dig and plant himself!
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Post  Old Hippie 9/27/2010, 3:07 pm

Chopper wrote:You need a 2X2 that he can dig and plant himself!

That's what I would do. Give him his own. Might as well get him started now.

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Post  elliephant 9/27/2010, 3:52 pm

LOL I am thinking he needs a sand box or something. MM is a bit pricey for him to be scattering all over the place, though.

His two older sisters (age 3 and 4) are getting the area where the box used to be (that wasn't level enough). I've put in some edging and we're going to grow some flowers and Sunberry plants (Wonderberry).
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