How to level a garden bed?

[nagumuthu]

Hello All

For avoiding weed growth, planning to lay weedmat and pebbles on top if it. Procured materials from Bunnings.

before going ahead, thought of levelling the ground. Please refer to below image.

The surface looks very uneven. The questions that popped up are

1. What tools are to be used for levelling the ground. 
2. Which type of sand is to the topped up

3. Should any material be sprayed before laying the weedmat (Kindly note, The space might be occupied by roses / veggies in future)

I have only cleared the weeds at a small space and that is where the sand is exposed as shown in above image. The plan is to extend this activity on side by area considering the time spend for each day, not at one go.

Looking forward to your reply from you.

Happy Gardening.

Best wishes

MM

[MitchellMc]

Hi @nagumuthu,

For a garden bed, you should be able to adequately level the area by eye with a rake. Rakes like this Spear & Jackson 18 Tine Landscapers Rake are handy because they come with a spreading bar on the back to level the area.

If you require additional soil for the area, I would suggest the budget-friendly Garden Basics 25L Garden Soil Mix for any large amounts and switch to a premium mix like Scotts Osmocote 25L Garden Soil Premium Planting Mix for the areas where you'll be planting the roses and veggies.

Once the majority of the grass and weeds are removed, the weed matting will do a good job of preventing their re-emergence. You might find the grass tries to grow at the edges of the weed matting, so spray the grass around the boundary with RoundUp. Leave the weeds for seven days, so the poison does its job. You can then pull out the dead weeds, and you be fine to plant your roses and veggies soon after. 

Please let me know if you have any questions and happy gardening!

Mitchell

[nagumuthu]

Hello @MitchellMc 

Thanks for your recommendations.

Two questions that raised upon reading your message are

1. Once rake is used to level the sand, which tool is used for compacting the loose sand. Pressing the sand harder will help to remain in place and not run way while/after rain. If it runs away then the levelling work done is not productive.

2. Roundup herbicide - will it contaminate the soil and spread out after rain, as the water moves along.

Happy Gardening with care to the plants.

MM.

2. 

[MitchellMc · Accepted solution]

Hi @nagumuthu,

Typically it would be best if you didn't compact a garden bed, as plants prefer loose soil. The weed matting you'll be adding over the soil will prevent rain from washing away the soil.

Roundup is only active in plants and deactivated on soil contact. Soil microorganisms then break it down so you can reuse the soil for re-planting. It's recommended that you leave treated weeds for about seven days before digging them up to allow Roundup to move to the roots of the weed. When applying the Roundup, you only need to spritz the leaves, and there shouldn't be enough to be washed away into other areas.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

[MitchellMc]

Hi again @nagumuthu,

I just wanted to add that when using RoundUp, wear appropriate safety gear, such as a long sleeve shirt and pants, gloves, goggles, and a face mask.

Mitchell

[TheHandySqirrel]

Hi @nagumuthu,

if you are concerned about using a chemical weed killer, try several layers of newspaper or cardboard (the latter without sticky tape or labels). Poke holes for your plantings and distribute a layer of mulch on top of the newspaper (thick enough to suppress weed growth).

Try killing any weedy regrowth by pouring boiling water over the plant.