Friday, April 19, 2013

Spring Gardening

I haven't written about gardening here at FH&L though it is a love of mine. Where I currently live gardening is very difficult. Plus I really haven't had the time to give my garden the attention it needs either. We didn't have any landscaping around the house at all when we moved here and we still need to do more work. 

Here in AZ raised beds are a good way to grow vegetables because the soil is not the best for growing. Raised beds allow for easy additions of compost and amendments and really are nice looking giving a neat and clean appearance to your garden area. You can use a variety of things for raised beds and it need not be difficult or labor intensive. 



I purchased 2 old galvanized horse troughs on Craigslist to use as raised beds for a few veggies and salad greens.  In the wintertime the height of the troughs allows for the soil to be warmed by the sun and gives me extra growing time I wouldn't have. The same is true in the summer though and the troughs over heat from the sun. The horse troughs have an added bonus for me....they are tall enough that I don't have to get down on my knees to garden and that my friends, is a big plus for a grand mother! 

We drilled a few holes in the bottom of the troughs for drainage and I fill the bottom with plastic bottles and drink containers (with the lids on tightly) to save using so much soil. We used a lot of compost, about 75%, and I added organic fertilizers. It is best to allow the soil mix to sit and decompose for a few months if you have used a lot of compost like I did, but not necessary. You can plant immediately. 


How to Build a Raised Garden Bed | The Shed by Pet Scribbles

The Shed has a beautiful raised bed garden you have to see! They used stone for a long lasting bed. Anyone would love a garden that looked this good.


Clover House created raised garden beds for their garden. Initially it is a little work and investment but well worth it! 



Then they covered it to keep out the frost.

Onion Sets and Winter Onions

Summer Acres started onions from seed and saved some money. They also planted Strawberries

wood palette garden lettuce
Diana Rambles used a pallet to create a lettuce garden. Very creative use of space and materials I might add. 


For spring planting you will need some seedlings. You can start your own and save some money. Egg shells are a good and fun way to start your seeds; Back 2 Basics gives us this trick. You will find lots of gardening tricks and tips at Back 2 Basics.

The links here are from Wow Us Wednesday and are my features.
I link at these parties.

If you are reading this post anywhere else but at www.FamilyHomeandLife.com then it was used without permission! Please report it! Copyright © Family Home and Life 2010-2013 All Rights Reserved

48 comments:

  1. I'm doing the same thing with the egg shells and egg carton. The kids really enjoy watching the progress. Enjoyed your gardening idea round-up!

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  2. Got you from Serenity Now link up and just posted this in my FB wall.

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  3. I still have some more planting to do, and your post makes me want to get outside NOW! :-)

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  4. Wow, thanks for the feature!

    ~Ann

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  5. Love the horse troughs! What a great, fun planter idea, have to be on the lookout for those! Thanks!

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  6. Love your craigs list finds! Thanks for all the great info :)

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  7. That don't bend down to weed watering trough is a great idea! :)

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  8. If you visit Sweetwater Style....you will see why this Minnesota Girl is so very jealous of your warm weather for Spring Gardening. Love this post!

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  9. I would love to have you come and share this! Come join the link party @ Share it With Us Saturdays on Great Tastes Tuesdays! The party starts Friday @ 8:30 p.m. Mountain time and runs all weekend. Don’t miss out! I would love to have you! http://greatastestuesdays.blogspot.com/2013/04/document.html

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  10. Raised garden beds are so great. I think they give a clean look to a yard too.

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. :)

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    www.raising-reagan.com

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  11. I love the idea of starting seeds in egg shells, what a creative idea.

    Thank you for linking up to Raising Imperfection! We appreciate you taking the time to link up, make sure to check back on Friday when we feature out favorites.
    Leslie

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  12. Troughs are great for planting...hopefully won't rotten for some time due to the water. Thanks for sharing. Living in our area, Phoenix, does present challenges.

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  13. Wow, I never heard of filling the bottom with plastic water bottles, that is brilliant!

    My sis has an awesome garden, she is a pro at it. I wish she lived closer! I keep saying I'm going to plant a vegie garden but I never do. However, I used to have an awesome flower garden for years, until the work just got too big for me (plus I'm allergic to pollen, lol!)

    Thanks so much for linking up to the "Making Your Home Sing" linky party today! :)

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  14. Thanks for featuring my palette garden! This year's lettuce is just starting to come up!

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  15. Great ideas! Love the egg shell idea!

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  16. Your garden is looking so good! Those galvanized troughs might be good for potato's.

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  17. Great tips!

    I would love for you to link up this - and your other gardening posts - at the Empty Your Archive link party. We have a special focus this week on gardening, Alice @ Mums Make Lists x

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  18. WOW! Thanks for the shout out! And thanks for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist!

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  19. Great ideas.......Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!


    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino

    The Chicken Chick

    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  20. Hello from www.rubyalicedesigns.com! I hopped over from Ginger Snap Crafts, thanks for sharing those different ideas of raised beds. I just started some lavender in eggs shells. I am really excited to see how they work!

    -Amy

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  21. I wonder how high I'd have to raise the garden bed to keep the rabbits out. Those troughs would work. Great ideas. Now I'm inspired!

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  22. I really like the watering trough idea. And, yes, it's getting more difficult for this granny to kneel down to garden too. Thanks for sharing these great ideas.
    Now following you from PICKINandPAINTIN.blogspot.com. Please come visit me. 8-)

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  23. Such beautiful raised beds! I love the look of the horse troughs.

    Thanks for linking up at Motivation Monday!

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  24. I love gardening too! I've never used raised beds but I can see the benefits! Thanks so much for sharing at the Rock ‘N Share linky party. Hope to see you again soon! Blessings, D@TheShadyPorch

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  25. ooh I love these ideas and I really want to make something like this this year!Thanks for sharing on Show Me Your Plaid Monday's!

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  26. These are some beautiful ideas..we do not hv big space but love to garden so hubby build raised bed last year. Our friend was building a new deck so he got all woods from old deck..so practically it was free :)

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  27. Love your galvanized horse trough raised bed! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

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  28. Wow, this is great! I would love to do something like this! I'm your newest follower :) Angela @hickorytrailblog.blogspot.com

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  29. It is the same for us here. Our weather in Central CA is much like Arizona. We have a few raised beds. I'd like a few more. I hope to get working in mine soon! Thanks for sharing @ Inspiration Spotlight @ DearCreatives.com Hope to see you again soon!

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  30. Oh I love the horse troughs! Very cool look! Thanks for linking up with us for Fabulously Frugal Thursday!

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  31. So many great ideas! I really hope spring is on the way here in Minnesota! Thanks for sharing at Time To Sparkle!

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  32. Love the idea of using horse troughs as raised beds. I do mostly container gardening now and I think I might be able to handle one of these. Great inspirational photos!

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  33. I like the idea of raised beds as well. For us it helps keep the bunnies out of things. Such lovely gardens you featured. Also, the egg shells are so cute with the little sprouts in them.

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  34. Love the ideas of the pallet and of the egg shells! I just created little vases out of old newspapers to seed some beans indoor (it's still too cold outside...) and they work great too!

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  35. I have an old trough just like those and was wondering what I could use it for. Great idea!

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  36. Found you from Sew Many Ways "Find a Friend Friday." I just linked up our new raised bed that our son built. I love your horse troughs! That is such a new & rustic idea for a raised bed! I'm going to pin it on pinterest =)

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  37. Thanks for sharing, came to visit from Sew Many Ways. Used to live in Phoenix (Tolleson/Avondale) and had a raised garden to save it from gophers. Use egg crates, never thought about egg shells.

    Curious if you know how to get Oregano to grow, mine is hair strand thin and the minute I try to water or transfer it, it dies!

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  38. I love the blog. Some great garden ideas here.

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  39. Love the garden tips! It has been still a little cool out for me to start my garden.

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  40. woow,,,,,, that´s a great gardening :)
    just LOVE :)
    and do not miss......

    SATURDAY SHOW OFF

    it is FUN :)
    WELCOME
    Håkan ( The Roseman)

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  41. I love the planter and your raised beds! Thanks for sharing this on The Creative HomeAcre Hop!
    Hope to see you again today. :)
    http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/04/the-creative-homeacre13.html

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  42. I have had egg shells ready to start plants for a few weeks. this reminds me to do it tomorrow. Love your galvanized planters. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  43. I told Brian I wanted to wait until next year to plant a garden ... I have so much to learn about desert life lol! Thanks so much for joining us at last week's All my Bloggy Friends .... We look forward to seeing what you share this week!

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  44. Look at those fabulous squash coming out! Mmmm. I can't wait for mine to come. My garden doesn't look near as great as yours but it gives me something to aspire to! I love the egg shell starts. I have not ever done that before. Thank you so much for linking up @ Great Idea Thursdays :) Krista @ http://ahandfulofeverything.blogspot.com

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  45. great post Connie. Love those galvanized horse troughs! :)

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  46. Loving those seedlings in the egg shells - so cute!

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  47. I love the trough planters and your raised beds are amazing! I just moved into the house I'm in this last November and had not had the time to do any kind of gardening... I really need to get on it :)

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Thank you SO much for taking the time to leave a comment!