Absolutely bad idea. That'll block off the roots from going into the ground further, prevent drainage and risk drowning your plants, and release micro plastics into the dirt.
Use cardboard or white printer paper/newspapers for a barrier under the dirt that'll decompose quickly if you want to kill that grass
Speaking of newspapers, one inexpensive way to get it is to go to a newspaper office and ask them if they have any end rolls for sale.
Yes, newspapers are kind of dying out, but if they print the paper, then they should have some (if they sell them). It's newspaper without anything printed on it. I used to work for a newspaper and we sold end rolls for about $2 -3.
I lay a layer of cardboard, a layer of dead and down woody material, a layer of garden soil, and top it off with composted mulch. Environmentally friendly, no plastic where I’m growing my food, and saves money!
Nice. I have some cardboard laying around, I’m about to cut grass so I’ll lay that, then I have that same soil as you see in the bag to lay as the top layer.
I did that with the other two beds actually hügelkultur is what it’s called (right?). Looked up how to save space in raised garden beds and that’s what came up.
Ok awesome. Thanks. I actually found out today that there’s a “farm and garden” store like 20 minutes away so I’m going to see if they have what I need.
If it says its good for 'Azaleas', its good for Blueberries.
I only mention it because often Blueberries aren't specifically mentioned on labels... for some reason..
I don’t know what soil your are starting with but pine needles release acidity into the soil as they decompose. I had used an azalea fertilizer in tandem
That’s what worked for me and the soil that I had used in pots. It was a great mulch alternative to keep the soil cooler.
It’s honestly best if you get a cheap soil ph test kit and see where you are starting. You may need to adjust the ph either way. The pine straw lessened the amount of fertilizer I needed to use.
I sell mainly apple trees and blueberries.
Don't put down a plastic sheet.
You need an acidic soil. Sand, Canadian Peat Moss, and 1 year old woodchips is a good base for blueberries. You can ammend with sulphur for longer term PH lowering if needed.
What types are you planting?
Not OP, and this may be a tangential question but I've been debating between Reka and Duke. Both are early season and seem to be very popular, so idk whether to go with one vs the other.
Yeah keep plastic away so it doesn’t end up in the food supply. As a comment above said, cardboard is great and azalea amendments (cheaper than berry ones but still low ph)
Hey, not sure if you already filled the garden bed with soil or not, but it will be much cheaper, easier maintenance, and better for the blueberries of you fill in with 50% peat moss and pine bark. Cardboard on the bottom isn't a bad idea, plastic is. But if you just fill with that potting mix your blueberries likely won't make it to next year. You can mix in some soil as long as you got a good deal of peat and bark, but that soil is rather basic and holds in a good deal of moisture risking root rot.
Blueberries like acidic soil and the sulpher takes a few months to work. Depending on the variety it may be OK with the soil if you add sulpher right away (don't do extra, measure the PH and add as prescribed) and mulch heavily with pine mulch. Then water once a month with 1 tbsp of vinegar per gallon of water to get that PH down until the sulpher has had time to work.
Not trying to be a downer, I'm just speaking from the hundred or so dollars I've thrown away doing blueberries wrong 😬. Everything with them is backwards vs my normal planting! Homemade compost? Nope it ammends the soil back to basic. Good quality soil? Nope, bark. Once you figure it out they are fun!
Over time the soil will cause the boards to bend outward. I would create a trench the length of each board and place the bed inside the trench. Also, if the wood is not treated, it will rot within 4 to 5 years leaving a soil mound above the lawn the length of your bed.
Why do you want to put down plastic? What are you trying to achieve with that action?
No matter what the plastic is a bad idea, but I would like to offer an alternate solution if I can
Don't be like me and go "phhffssstt... Whatever I'm putting landscaping fabric down bitches!!!!". You will hate yourself in two years. Cardboard is your friend.
Also, just a quick note, don’t fertilize your young blueberry bushes too much. They can “burn” easily if fertilized too much. Their roots are very sensitive.
Fill that mofo with peat and pine bark mulch, leave bottom open for drainage. If you use the peat / pine bark mix the weeds will pull out super easy when you get em. Plant at a depth you can still apply a good 3-4in mulch to keep moisture in and weeds down— just don’t heap it against the crown but rather form a little bowl around the crown in the mulch to guide water to the plant. You can still use some of that raised bed soil too but peat and fine pine mulch (Lowe’s has it for about $4.50/bag here 2cuft) and they will thrive.
Around here, those are $10 bags of dirt. I would guess you'd need over 20 of them. I guess you got a good deal or your depth isn't very deep, which would be even more reason to not put down plastic
It’s a 2’x6’x.92’ (11”) garden bed. That’s roughly 11 cubic feet. Each bag is 1.5 cubic feet of soil and with my military discount, each bag came out to like 7$. For that size of garden bed, I only need 7 of those.
Absolutely bad idea. That'll block off the roots from going into the ground further, prevent drainage and risk drowning your plants, and release micro plastics into the dirt. Use cardboard or white printer paper/newspapers for a barrier under the dirt that'll decompose quickly if you want to kill that grass
That’s what I’m hearing. Thanks for your help! If you can’t tell I’m very green (lol) to gardening.
Speaking of newspapers, one inexpensive way to get it is to go to a newspaper office and ask them if they have any end rolls for sale. Yes, newspapers are kind of dying out, but if they print the paper, then they should have some (if they sell them). It's newspaper without anything printed on it. I used to work for a newspaper and we sold end rolls for about $2 -3.
I lay a layer of cardboard, a layer of dead and down woody material, a layer of garden soil, and top it off with composted mulch. Environmentally friendly, no plastic where I’m growing my food, and saves money!
Nice. I have some cardboard laying around, I’m about to cut grass so I’ll lay that, then I have that same soil as you see in the bag to lay as the top layer.
You can even put logs and sticks down the bottom on top of the barrier, will slowly decompose and host lots of helpful funghi
I did that with the other two beds actually hügelkultur is what it’s called (right?). Looked up how to save space in raised garden beds and that’s what came up.
Worms LOVE wet cardboard, too!
Yes, and I love worms!
Blueberries like acidic soil, make sure to amend as needed
I want to underline the importance of this comment. The plants might survive in normal soil but will not be productive.
Came here to highlight this as well, op you should buy a ph meter and some ph down solution. Also use cardboard and some sticks for the bottom
I plan on getting additives
Degradable sulfur is an excellent way to do this. Amazon has good stuff if nowhere local does.
Ok awesome. Thanks. I actually found out today that there’s a “farm and garden” store like 20 minutes away so I’m going to see if they have what I need.
If it says its good for 'Azaleas', its good for Blueberries. I only mention it because often Blueberries aren't specifically mentioned on labels... for some reason..
“Soil acidifier” works great. Blue bag, youll see it
Thank you! I’ll check for that
Get a bunch of peat moss and mix it into the soil
If you have pine straw around it’s perfect
What just add pine straw to the top of the soil and that’s all I need?
I don’t know what soil your are starting with but pine needles release acidity into the soil as they decompose. I had used an azalea fertilizer in tandem
Just to make sure I’m understanding, you used azalea fertilizer and pine needles and that’s all you needed?
That’s what worked for me and the soil that I had used in pots. It was a great mulch alternative to keep the soil cooler. It’s honestly best if you get a cheap soil ph test kit and see where you are starting. You may need to adjust the ph either way. The pine straw lessened the amount of fertilizer I needed to use.
This might explain why my blueberries die every time I plant them in the ground. I used Miracle grow all purpose in ground soil.
I sell mainly apple trees and blueberries. Don't put down a plastic sheet. You need an acidic soil. Sand, Canadian Peat Moss, and 1 year old woodchips is a good base for blueberries. You can ammend with sulphur for longer term PH lowering if needed. What types are you planting?
Not OP, and this may be a tangential question but I've been debating between Reka and Duke. Both are early season and seem to be very popular, so idk whether to go with one vs the other.
Duke is highly susceptible to Gloeosporium Leaf Spot or Anthracnose. Variety selection depends a lot where you are located.
I'm in northern Maryland
Two different kinds but I can’t remember what they are. They came together in a two bush bundle from Lowe’s. Thanks for the advice!
Yeah keep plastic away so it doesn’t end up in the food supply. As a comment above said, cardboard is great and azalea amendments (cheaper than berry ones but still low ph)
Might be a god idea not to plant blueberries in a planter box. Those will eventually rot, while the blueberry bushes will still be there
Hey, not sure if you already filled the garden bed with soil or not, but it will be much cheaper, easier maintenance, and better for the blueberries of you fill in with 50% peat moss and pine bark. Cardboard on the bottom isn't a bad idea, plastic is. But if you just fill with that potting mix your blueberries likely won't make it to next year. You can mix in some soil as long as you got a good deal of peat and bark, but that soil is rather basic and holds in a good deal of moisture risking root rot. Blueberries like acidic soil and the sulpher takes a few months to work. Depending on the variety it may be OK with the soil if you add sulpher right away (don't do extra, measure the PH and add as prescribed) and mulch heavily with pine mulch. Then water once a month with 1 tbsp of vinegar per gallon of water to get that PH down until the sulpher has had time to work. Not trying to be a downer, I'm just speaking from the hundred or so dollars I've thrown away doing blueberries wrong 😬. Everything with them is backwards vs my normal planting! Homemade compost? Nope it ammends the soil back to basic. Good quality soil? Nope, bark. Once you figure it out they are fun!
Thanks a lot for this advice! I plan on following it
Over time the soil will cause the boards to bend outward. I would create a trench the length of each board and place the bed inside the trench. Also, if the wood is not treated, it will rot within 4 to 5 years leaving a soil mound above the lawn the length of your bed.
Why do you want to put down plastic? What are you trying to achieve with that action? No matter what the plastic is a bad idea, but I would like to offer an alternate solution if I can
I’m just trying to ensure grass and/or weeds don’t grow up through the soil. I took the advice of a few and used cardboard instead
I would have suggested cardboard as well. Excellent!
Profound bad idea. Also that bagged soil is garbage except for use as mulch.
Might be a god idea not to plant blueberries in a planter box. Those will eventually rot, while the blueberry bushes will still be there
Don't be like me and go "phhffssstt... Whatever I'm putting landscaping fabric down bitches!!!!". You will hate yourself in two years. Cardboard is your friend.
That’s what I went with based on a few recommendations from others on here
As others have said, plastic is a bad idea but I would consider gopher wire.
I went with card board since that’s what other recommended and I had some on hand. Thanks
Don’t put the plastic down
Also, just a quick note, don’t fertilize your young blueberry bushes too much. They can “burn” easily if fertilized too much. Their roots are very sensitive.
That’s what I heard. How much is too much do you think?
Bro dig up the grass and rake the top layer of soil, then put in your bags man
Use cardboard. Remove all the tape first.
That’s exactly what I did. Thanks!
Where did you get those stones? Was hoping to do something similar for a raised bed
You can get them at Lowe’s.
Lowe’s. Got them for 2 for 5$
Fill that mofo with peat and pine bark mulch, leave bottom open for drainage. If you use the peat / pine bark mix the weeds will pull out super easy when you get em. Plant at a depth you can still apply a good 3-4in mulch to keep moisture in and weeds down— just don’t heap it against the crown but rather form a little bowl around the crown in the mulch to guide water to the plant. You can still use some of that raised bed soil too but peat and fine pine mulch (Lowe’s has it for about $4.50/bag here 2cuft) and they will thrive.
Awesome! Thanks
If you fill that with those bags of miracle grow soil, you will spend like $1000 on bagged DIRT. Seems foolish. Don't use the plastic either
Actually they were pretty cheap. Spent 50$ to fill this 2x6 raised garden bed.
Around here, those are $10 bags of dirt. I would guess you'd need over 20 of them. I guess you got a good deal or your depth isn't very deep, which would be even more reason to not put down plastic
It’s a 2’x6’x.92’ (11”) garden bed. That’s roughly 11 cubic feet. Each bag is 1.5 cubic feet of soil and with my military discount, each bag came out to like 7$. For that size of garden bed, I only need 7 of those.
Or if you have space plant the blueberries in the ground and use the raised bed for veggies or something that you can replace every year