good for you!! did it feel good to break ground?
yes you will run into roots and rock..but the good thing is that when they are gone..they are gone. generally you can cut through roots..as long as they arent too big, and that there isnt a
tree or shrub too close that they might suffer. i forked my garden space in a small grid pattern..the whole thing..three times. for a veggie garden..it is a very good idea to do so. all your root veggies will thank you if you give them nice plyable soil to grow into. take your time..this is one thing you only have to do once...so it is worth the sweat.
i too LOVE raised beds. they are neat, clean, soo easy to trun around..and yes..if you have mobility problems..it is neccasary. i have a mixture of raised beds, beds and containers for my veggie gardnening.
for composting...congrats by the way. composting is such a valuable and resourceful method of gardeing..i wouldnt have one without the other. i have mentioned that i have a landscaping co., and i have talked about 75% of my clients into composting, and we all benifit. i have a three bin system, which i built myself. it stared off as one..then when it was rimming, i made a second..turned the first into the second..and stared filling the first again. and when the first was full, i turned the second into the third, and the first into the second. and when the first was filled AGAIN...well...my third was done..and they all could be flipped!! HAHAHA..i am sooo long winded..sorry...but you get the picture. the end result is one of the most benifical ingredients you can enrich your gardens with. the important thing is that you keep large stick..or any thing that looks hard to break down. you should try to cut things up..as this will speed up the procces. the smaller the chunks..the better. i always cut my watermelon rinds..for example.. The best thing to keep in mind is having a good ratio of carbon and nitrogen in the bin. too much of one can cause problems.the carbon end of things are items like leaves or straw, and the nitrogen are grass or kitchen scraps. if you have too much nitrogen..you will start to have an odor..soo add a bunch of leaves to balance it. Composting is a science..so i wont get into it..but it is worth researching!
as for what to
plant..there are great deals in the nursery now..because they charge soo much more for things which are in bloom..so now is a good time to pick up nice perennials for cheap. but sometimes it is easier to vision the garedn when the
plants are looking good..so it doesnt matter. you have a wee bit to go before the hard frosts to
plant. i am planting garlic now to be ready next summer, and of course..all my
spring bulbs are gonna be planted soon. i am doing a BIG show this year. hehehe...nothing like
spring flowers!
well..good luck, and keep us posted.
