Landscape Fabric Weed Barrier

Tomatoes 3/21/2010, 6:40 pm

I understand the concept that the landscape fabric will stop weeds from coming up, but I'm concerned that some roots need to go deeper than the depth of the box. I can't reconcile this. This is the argument du jour in my house - HELP!

choksaw 3/21/2010, 7:19 pm

Hello and welcome to the forums if you have some plants with roots that need to go deeper like carrots and other root crops just build the box a little deeper 6 inchs is only the recomendation not a commandment im going to be makeing a potatoe box set up thats going to be about 4 ft tall there is alot of information on this forum so be sure and ask questions post pictures view others pictures find your local region forum to meet up with people in your area and hardiness zone and offer any advice tips and tricks that you yourself might have.

**WardinWake** 3/21/2010, 8:30 pm

Howdy and Welcome to the SFG forum.

Yes it is a bit of a shift in mind set to think that most plants need only six inches of good quality soil to thrive. After all, we have been taught for years that you had to dig deep and add lots and lots of soil amendments year after year and that it had to be many inches deep. That is what I was taught and so that was what I believed. Then comes along this guy who wrote a book called, "ALL NEW Square Foot Gardening" that challenged all that "gardeners gospel" that I had been taught. Of course I was also taught that you had to be a Summer Santa Clause (hoe, hoe, hoe) in order to have a successful garden and you had to shed lots of sweat or the weeds would eat your veggies and flowers and all of your work would be in vain. My grandfather would be of good cheer if he were alive today and found out that you don't have to hoe, hoe, hoe in the hot summer sun and you only have to have 6 inches of good ole Mel's Mix to not only have a bountiful garden of veggies but he could also plant grandma's favorite flowers in the same bed as his cucumbers. They would both be most happy. So as many, many successful Square Foot Gardeners worldwide can attest, yes, six inches of Mel's Mix is all that the vast majority of plants need.

God Bless, Ward.

**timwardell** 3/21/2010, 9:08 pm

WardinWake wrote:Howdy and Welcome to the SFG forum.
Yes it is a bit of a shift in mind set to think that most plants need only six inches of good quality soil to thrive. After all, we have been taught for years that you had to dig deep and add lots and lots of soil amendments year after year and that it had to be many inches deep. That is what I was taught and so that was what I believed. <snip> They would both be most happy. So as many, many successful Square Foot Gardener worldwide can attest, yes, six inches of Mel's Mix is all that the vast majority of plants need.

God Bless, Ward.

Amen Ward!
Love the "Summer Santa Clause (hoe, hoe, hoe)" - never heard that one. Very Happy

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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.