Adding a Strawberry Bed.
In the fall of 2016 Hugh Miller, a grower from Luthersville, GA and member of the Down to Earth Organics Association, donated nearly one hundred strawberry plants from Ison Nurseries to Burch Garden. To address concerns about Georgia's ongoing drought, he suggested that the berry plants be planted "under plastic" and volunteered to teach a group of Fayette County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers how to install plastic mulch in one of the raised beds.
In advance of the planting, a Master Gardener enriched the soil in the raised bed with organic fertilizer and compost and put soaker hoses in place. She then watered the bed thoroughly so the team could immediately get to work putting down the plastic. To keep the two layers of plastic from being displaced by the wind, the gardeners inserted metal landscape staples about every two feet along the length of the bed. After the young strawberry plants were installed, additional anchoring staples were added.
Clicking on any photo will enlarge it.
In advance of the planting, a Master Gardener enriched the soil in the raised bed with organic fertilizer and compost and put soaker hoses in place. She then watered the bed thoroughly so the team could immediately get to work putting down the plastic. To keep the two layers of plastic from being displaced by the wind, the gardeners inserted metal landscape staples about every two feet along the length of the bed. After the young strawberry plants were installed, additional anchoring staples were added.
Clicking on any photo will enlarge it.