I am taking next week off from work with the intention on completing a project I’ve wanted to do to the house since we moved in 4 years ago.
Along the rear south side of the house is a fenced in area approximately 30 feet deep and 12 feet across. I’m guessing that it used to be a dog run years ago. It has been slowly reclaimed by nature for I do not know how long now. While there aren’t any real, full grown trees there, there is significant brush, bushes, and ivy growing back there.
I want to clear this space out and plant vegetables. What is the most efficient way to make this space garden friendly. The times I’ve ventured back there in the past, the ground is hard packed and somewhat pebble-ly - I’m not sure how much soil is back there right now. I am assuming I’ll have to rent some sort of mechanical device to help me in this regard.
Also, assuming that I am successful, any suggestions for constructing a garden? I’m thinking a couple of raised boxes, but I am open for suggestions as well as building techniques. The kids are all excited to plant vegetables (probably much less excited to eat them when they are ready, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it). They’ve picked out non-root types (so no carrots/potatoes/etc) if that makes any difference.
With that sort of ground, I think you’d be wise to go with the raised boxes. You’ll have to remove all kinds of crud, and then work in a lot of organic material, so you’d basically just be making soil there.
to plant in the ground would require digging up the water robbing bushes (in an area larger than the actual fenced in area) and bringing in or making top soil.
raised beds can be made very high yielding for the size. also that is easier for kids because it is a recognized limited area; planting in the ground even for the same area looks bigger and they are tired before they start.
make raised beds and bring in or make soil. you can cut bushes to the ground and not have to dig up (except the ones under the beds you make). to make soil for all the beds you could make would take time, compost all your leaves and grass clippings (and those of your neighbors, local government may have some available). plan a layout and start with as many beds as you have soil for. in raised beds watering is easy with soaker hoses that you could leave in place.
Thanks. I’m not interested in keeping anything that is currently growing there. I want to clear out everything that is there now and end up only with some raised beds for the garden.
You can rent a tiller from big-box home improvement stores. Also, a quick side note: if you want to successfully grow vegetables, make sure the planting sites receive full sun - at least 6 - 8 hours of direct sunshine per day. You mention a southern exposure, which is good, but I just wanted to say that if there are a lot of overhanging tree branches you might be a bit disappointed with the yield.
You’ll be better off making raised beds and bringing in your own compost and good soil, as others have said. Hard-packed unamended dirt will only bring you complete disappointment if you just stick plants directly into the ground. Soaker hoses are awesome, esp. compared to hand-watering, so plan for those ahead of time.