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FALLFAMILYFUNGUIDE

GO PLAY

DirtIN THE
You don’t have to have a large yard—or a green thumb—to have a great garden. Gardens
can be grown in containers on a patio, balcony or deck, or in a raised bed in your yard.

WHILE IT’S TOO late in the year to bottom of the container with a drill. limit the width to 4 feet. If it’s wider than
grow spring vegetables and some summer »» Purchase potting mix from a garden that, you may not be able to easily reach
vegetables, it’s the perfect time to start plants growing in the center.
planning your fall garden. According to the center or home improvement store. These »» Cut 2-inch by 10-inch lumber into the
University of Georgia Extension, August, mixes are ideal for container gardens appropriate lengths. You’ll need two long
September and October are the perfect because the’re all-in-one products that pieces that are the same size and two
times to start growing vegetables such are ready to use. shorter pieces that are the same size to
as broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, »» Fill the container with the potting mix, create your rectangle.
onions and squash. but don’t pack it down. The container »» Secure the corners with 2 ½-inch deck
should be nearly filled, with about 2 screws.
CONTAINER GARDENS inches of space at the top. »» Line the bed with landscape fabric or
»» Now you’re ready to plant! another weed barrier to keep weeds and
Container gardens are planted in pots pests from entering your garden.
rather than in the ground. You can use any RAISED BED GARDENS »» Fill the raised bed with potting mix.
pot or planter, as long as it has holes to »» Start planting!
allow water to drain and is large enough for Raised bed gardens are built-in structures If you’re using seeds, make sure to follow
the plant’s roots to grow. Your pot doesn’t that rest above the ground. These gardens— the instructions on the package and place
have to be fancy—it can even be a recycled usually rectangle-shaped—can either them far enough apart.
nursery container (the pots trees and be designed and built by you, or you can If you’ve purchased plants, remove them
bushes come in when they’re purchased at a purchase a raised bed kit. from the container and wet the roots. Dig
garden center) or a five-gallon bucket. a hole just deep enough to cover the roots,
To build a raised bed garden: and add the plant. Replace the soil over the
To make a container garden: »» Find the perfect location for your garden. roots and lightly pack the soil.
»» Find the pots or buckets you want to use. Water plants daily.
It should be a flat area that gets plenty of
If you’re using a bucket or pot that doesn’t sunlight.
have drainage holes, add several to the »» Decide how large you want the garden to
be. While it can be as long as you want,

PLANTING Use these guidelines from the University August: September
SCHEDULE of Georgia Extension to add plants to your Snap beans, cucumbers, and October:
garden. If you’re using seeds, you’ll want to squash
plant them two or three weeks earlier so they Broccoli, cabbage, carrots,
have time to sprout. collards, lettuce, onions,
spinach, turnips

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