first timer

mamamagoo 7/1/2011, 5:18 pm

Hi I am in South Florida and am trying to set up my beds so they will be ready for the growing season. I am having a really hard time finding lath strips, does anyone know where I can get them? Thanks in advance Smile

fiddleman 7/1/2011, 5:28 pm

Lath can be purchased from the big box lumber yards, local lumbar yards, or if you have access to a table saw, a couple of 2x4's will give you all the lath you could wish for.

Lath isn't necessarily the best/only choice for a grid, there are many other options out there... plastic chair webbing, clothes line, rope, window blind lath... the list goes on... The point isn't the material, but being able to split the garden space into 1 foot squares... so be creative if you like and figure out a material which works for you; after all it's your garden and you can make it look any way you want! Smile

Mark

sherryeo 7/1/2011, 5:33 pm

, mamamagoo! I'm so glad you've joined us! I found my lath at Lowes, but I had to ask for help finding it - it really wasn't very noticeable. It was in a little cubby thing in the lumber section and not really in plain view.

Please let us know how you progress and if you have any other questions, problems, concerns. Also let us know of any successes - we love sharing in everything sfgardeners go through! I hope to see you posting often!

As fiddleman notes, many others use other materials. I prefer the look of the lath, but may have to go with something less expensive when I make up my 3 new beds. The cost of the Mel's Mix can really get expensive, though it's certainly worth it!

mamamagoo 7/1/2011, 7:38 pm

Thank you so much for the replies. I did try Home Depot and Lowes but the only lath I could find was treated so I will try be creative. It is very difficult to find stuff for sfg in South Florida. Smile

Pam Hazelwood 7/1/2011, 8:50 pm

I used string -- I put a nail every 12 inches and just used string to indicate the 12" square. Works great, not expensive.

BackyardBirdGardner 7/1/2011, 11:35 pm

Just poke around the "Showcase your Garden" subforum. Take note of everyone else. There are some creative grids in the pictures. However, string is becoming very popular because of it's low cost. Lots of us use nails, but those can snag your skin if not careful. The best I saw was "eye screws" mounted down the side of a bed a bit instead of on the "railing"....no snags with those.

shannon1 7/2/2011, 12:29 am

Mamamagoo, So glad your here. I must agree it is much more important you have a grid not so important what it is made from. I use nylon string it takes up very little space, it is cheap, does not strech, and stays white. I am so excited for you. SFG is truly the best way to garden. Check out our regional forum the Coastal and Tropical South. Tell us what you are planning on growing we love to hear from you and see pics when you have some.

**Kelejan** 7/2/2011, 1:32 am

I'm a Stringer too.

first timer 396615

Mamamagoo. Heaps to learn on this Forum and the people are so nice.
Now into my third month here. first timer 61949

Reverend Curlee 7/2/2011, 1:49 am

Hi Mamamagoo and Welcome. I used Bamboo Poles and Zip Ties that I purchased at Wal Mart. The Bamboo was $2.50 a bag and it contained enough poles for 2 - 4' X 4' beds. As others have said, this is a great forum full of valuable information and great people. Enjoy your SFG!

RC

Barkie 7/2/2011, 2:19 am

Hello and Welcome.

I use white plastic string at the moment, it doesn't take up much space.

mamamagoo 7/2/2011, 12:25 pm

Wow what a wonderful welcome! I am so grateful to you all for the advice and ideas. I live in a gated community and have a zero lot line so gardening is a challenge but am excited about the SFG concept. I have been scouring the net, blogs and forums to try figure out what will grow here. I just received my seeds and will be getting started soon. Finding vermiculite was really difficult but managed after a month. i will post pictures as soon as I have some. Smile

floyd1440 7/3/2011, 8:17 pm

Building a square foot garden. Had read the book years ago but lost it but remebered a few details so I put in 2 4x8 gardens. It is on a hill so had a hard time getting them level. My downfall was the soil for the gardens. I had not read his new book so I didn't know Mel's Mix so I used good top soil mixed with compost however it is not enough so when it turns cold I am thinking of adding vermiculite, peat moss, and compost. Any ideas if this seems acceptable or shovel it all out and start over?

Thanks
Floyd

BackyardBirdGardner 7/3/2011, 10:38 pm

floyd1440 wrote:Building a square foot garden. Had read the book years ago but lost it but remebered a few details so I put in 2 4x8 gardens. It is on a hill so had a hard time getting them level. My downfall was the soil for the gardens. I had not read his new book so I didn't know Mel's Mix so I used good top soil mixed with compost however it is not enough so when it turns cold I am thinking of adding vermiculite, peat moss, and compost. Any ideas if this seems acceptable or shovel it all out and start over?

Thanks
Floyd

Welcome all the same, but Floyd, you may be better served starting your own thread so we can welcome you properly without detracting from the attention mamamagoo deserves in hers.

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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.