Things are getting pretty exciting around here. For starters the cobblestones for the new driveway were delivered.
The plan is to have a cobblestone border and crushed seashells for the driveway. I don’t think you can get more of a coastal vibe than that. Several people around us have the same type of driveway and I just love the way it looks.
It’s just so nice to look outside and have all that asphalt gone. All those parking spaces… GONE.
I have no idea how long it will take them to complete the driveway {the weather has been a bit tricky this week} but I am sure looking forward to the new view.
While the landscape guys have been outside, the HH has been inside building the Vego raised garden beds.
I bought 8 Vego garden boxes online from Costco earlier this winter and well, I think 8 might be too many! {Did I just say that!?}
When I ordered them I wasn’t 100% sure of the configuration I’d want {there are 10 sizes to choose from} but now I know for sure.
We ended up deciding that if we assembled them at the 4’ x 8’ size I’d be able to fit 10 tomato plants {4 on each side, 1 on each end} plus a nice row of something else {carrots, beets, turnips} down the center of each raised bed.
So now the question becomes, do I really need all 8 raised garden beds?
Should we only install 4 and return the other 4?
If we just did the four garden beds that would mean 40 tomato plants, plus plenty of room for other vegetables in just the raised beds alone.
So, while definitely not a religious family sized garden plot, with all the other {vegetable} garden areas I’ll be planting, we would still have around 200 – 300 square feet of space to grow vegetables.
Usually I work on the theory of go big or go home but all I really want to do is grow enough for us and maybe a little extra to stick out on the garden cart this summer for the neighbors.
I’m not looking for another full time job. HA!
Although I do love to garden…. It’s a tough one.
Did I mention how much I like the quality of these beds? And the color! It’s lovely.
The back garden area {at the studio} has been prepped {behind the white line}. If I do 4 garden boxes I’ll still have a nice bit of grass which means room for an outdoor table and chairs {and maybe a firepit too?}.
If I do 8 garden boxes {2 rows of 4 beds} I won’t really have much of a yard back there once you leave room for walking between the rows.
In fact it would be just one giant garden space. Which isn’t a bad thing either. It’s a tough one.
Half garden boxes, half grass, or all garden boxes? What would you do?
~Mavis
P.S. I hope you have a great weekend!! 🙂
Nancy says
Go with 4 garden beds and a lovely fire pit/seating area!
Mel says
Is it a choice between 4 or 8, or could you do a 5th bed for perennials like strawberries or quick annuals like lettuce?
Mavis Butterfield says
I like the idea of 4 beds or 8 for the sake of a neat and tidy row of planters.
Susan Rose says
4 garden boxes this year and see how you like it. Expand next year, if you want more gardening space.
Nancy Settel says
Have you thought of one or 2 for the “regular” house? Just to fill with something way different that what is planted in the other 4 boxes. Could be outragous flowers or just something in the veggie line. Just a thought.
Mavis Butterfield says
The backyard is pretty tiny and I think having garden boxes in the back would shrink the area too much. Also, I like to use the clothes line in the summer and the boxes would be too close.
DebW says
We went to the Vego raised beds this year as well. I have 8 of the 4’x8′ size and 1 that is the 3.5′ x 5′ to put near the gate entrance to the fenced garden space – so I can get my wheelbarrow in there.
I’m REALLY excited about them! They look so tidy and pretty!
I’m very impressed with the quality and the shipping was very quick!
I’ll be planting carrots and beets today!
Jill says
Start out with four and then if you’re not satisfied then add more later.
Jamie says
Start with 4 and see what you think.
Mallory L. says
Could you double stack them? It would give the tomato plants some more root-room. Handy for hilling potatoes too. You could fill the bottom with clippings/limbs/etc to take up room.
Someday when we get a garden in, the goal is tall raised beds so that I can weed sitting on a stool – easier on the back!
sandy says
I bought the higher VEGO (dogs) I filled the bottom with limbs, clippings as well. Love them! I had ordered the Costco Vego planers but returned them when I thought the crazy puppy would love to jump in and dig the plants up…the tall one is great. I got the biggest one they sell.
SueD says
They make taller containers, but the containers aren’t stackable.
Rosemary says
I would keep all 8. Use 4 this year and see how it goes. If you find that you are using the back yard a lot for sitting and entertaining, then having only 4 would be good. But, if you find that you are not using the back yard as much as you thought, then you can put together the other 4. In any case, Costco will take back any you don’t use even if it is 5 years from now (LOL).
GrannyB says
That’s what I would suggest also. Although when it came time to put in fall plants, I might add the others at that time if we didn’t use the backyard like we thought, or the summer plants were still going strong and I needed the extra space.
Mona says
I have 8 vego 8×4 beds and I love them! I can plant such a variety of veggies and a plant one with just flowers for the pollinators. Seattle area.
Lesley says
Four boxes and a place for chairs/firepit so you can enjoy the space!
Sue S. says
I agree 100%; some grass to wiggle your toes in and for Lucy. Plus you can sit out at night and watch all of those satellites passing overhead in a lone.
Sue S. says
Line.
suzanne says
I don’t think you’ll sit still long enough to use a fire pit but my HH mows the lawn and uses the chain saw. I do everything else garden related so my vote is grass for the win. Your gardens are always beautiful and vibrant and I look forward to seeing them.
Annette says
Do they have a bottom panel? Or do you put weed barrier underneath?
SueD says
No bottom panel. You can put weed barrier underneath. They recommend putting leaves, branches, compost, then soil to fill the planters.
Christa H. says
I would use all of them and put the chairs/pit somewhere else.
For the extra four, I would have:
One as a tea garden. All plants are used for tea or other drinks. Mints I would keep in a pot with a 12×12 1 in thick concrete slab under it so roots don’t grow down, but set them inside the raised bed for tidiness.
Another would be all perennial herbs with some annuals added in between for cooking/salves/etc.
Then one with different fruits like blueberries, strawberries, thornless raspberries (Joan J) and thornless blackberries.
The last one would be for carrots/lettuce/daikon and french radishes/horseradish, kale, etc.
Another idea is dahlias since you would need to dig them out to store over the winter and a raised bed would make that so much easier.
I would also add a cattle panel trellis from one bed to another arched over to walk under and grown items up and over like peas, pole beans, flowering vines that don’t take over, etc.
Mimi says
I have 6 and I want more. They require a lot of soil if that helps you decide.
lafn says
Watering them has challenges unless the water gods are plentiful this summer. Good luck.
Gigi says
Maybe 6 in a U shape and patio/table/lawn in the middle?
Nancy D says
Your projects are so encouraging! That’s a hard decision between 4 and 8! Both have strengths and weaknesses. I’ve never been around the crushed seashell look (PNW). I searched for some images and it sure is beautiful! A couple of questions I have are….is it sharp to walk on for Lucy and how do you use a snow blower in the winter without messing it up? (We have a gravel driveway and it might be similar….we end up shoveling a bit of gravel up with the snow and end up picking it out of the lawn in the spring.) I am sure whatever you decide will be picture perfect!