It was really important to me to spend the first week getting as many plants in to the ground as I could because this would give me as much grow time as possible. If you look at the pictures right after planting you’ll see why: if I had waited until the very end the plants wouldn’t be filled in and it would look like a pinterest fail. A few months ago while visiting my parents Mike and I grabbed about 16 of my dad’s old scaffolding planks. He’s a retired stucco contractor but still has a yard full of supplies. They’ve been sitting on the side of the house just waiting for me to put them to use.
Just cutting all the pieces was a lot of work, I piled them all in the “garden” area and made a trip to Lowe’s for some wood screws to get them all together. I also bought some soil and plants.
I spaced them evenly, stapled landscaping fabric to the insides and called it a day. We have 10 chickens we keep in our rear yard and they do a good job of improving the soil in that area. I spent the next day shoveling some of that dirt and then wheel barrow it to the “garden” area. It took three wheel barrow fulls of dirt for each planter. That’s 12 trips. Plus, I wanted to amend the soil with vegetable soil, peat moss and some vermiculite. I bought that at Lowe’s and put a bag of each of those into the soil too. If you’re curious where I get my gardening info, I’ve read this book about twenty times in the past several years.
Days three and four were spent buying and planting plants. The first trip to Lowe’s I bought 24 plants and when I got them in the ground it looked like nothing had been done. In fact, it was almost funny.
What I was hoping it would look like:
What it actually looked like:
#pinterestfail
So, I went to Home Depot and bought 24 more plants. Some pvc and fittings to get water to all these plants. Then I went to Armstrong Garden Center and bought about 30 more plants and a bay leaf tree. and this is were I finished the week:
Guys. This is what 60+ something plants looks like. I hope in the next few weeks they spread out because I am done with planting anything in the beds (I did spread some carrot seeds and spinach seeds though).
So, here’s where I ended the week: all the plants are in. Rough plumbing is in…but I’m still watering by hand. I also found a couple of cute chairs and pillows for the area. And I’m working on an Ikea hack for my potting bench.
Plan for next week: finish all the drip irrigation; find a pot and plant my Bay Leaf tree; build the storage benches/seating area; mulch around the cut out plants; start working on the pool surround fence.
If you’d like to read more about this One Room Challenge, here’s links to the last five weeks for you to check out!
Week 1 – focuses on plans and detailed drawings of the space as well as before pictures.
Week 3 – Storage Bench tutorial and garden build/life update
Week 4 – Diy build of the equipment surround
Week 5 – DIY GIANT Barn Door, Ikea hacks and diy solar pendant lights on a pulley
Week 6 – The Reveal
Crossing my fingers that I get where I need to be next week, thanks for stopping by and cheering me on! This is definitely going to take some fine detailing to make it look a lot more inviting than what I have so far! If you have time check out some of the other One Room Challenge guest participants, along with the 20 Featured Designers.
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I agree it takes so many small plants to look like anything, but they will be so colorful when they have grown a bit!
It’s crazy how fast they are growing!
Looking good Joannie! Love watching how your remodels, always flows together. Never disappoints, always pleasing to the eyes, stunning and artistically creative.
Thank you!!! That means soooo much!
Joannie, this is looking so so good! I cannot wait to see it finished as I’ve always wanted a garden.
Thank you Libbie! So happy you’re following along!
Love the raised planter boxes. Especially the repurposed part. ❤️
Me too 🙂 My dad’s business was a huge part of my life growing up, I think re-using the planks was a nice way of adding that back in.
I love your planters so much. It’s amazing how many plants it takes to fill up planters of this size, but wow oh wow…you are going to have some show as they grow up and bloom. Excited!!!
It’s funny how sad and lonely they looked. They are already filling in so I’m feeling better. It’s insane how fast vegetables grow!
It looks great so far!!!!! And I will 100% be hitting you up for bay leaves at some point.
I will have some ready!
The plan of planting plants early is a good one. Something that I don’t many would have thought of. You got quite a bit done- be proud. Looking forward to seeing you potting bench hack!
I know what you mean about how many plants it takes to fill a large space. I always find myself going back to nurseries and purchasing more! Look forward to seeing how you’re going to hide the plumbing. Love the gorgeous inspiration photo, btw! Good luck next week!
Oh my gosh I admire your tenacity! You’ve gotten so much done. It’s going to look amazing once those plants settle in and start spreading.
I want some planters in our back yard! 60 plants is not joke. Good work my friend!
You’d love them! So convenient to have herbs and veggies ready to go!
I always feel like that after planting too. Then they fill in and take over. It’s looking great so far!!
Kitchen gardens are so handy, I love mine and these raised ones are fantastic! This project is looking great!
It’s looking so good! Loving all the raised planters!
Question for you, is there a reason you have incorporated flowers- marigolds in the garden. Is this a pest issue?