New garden spot

We've had our garden over at a friends the past few years and although it's just a mile away, it was a PITA to get over there to manage it.

So, I decided to pop one into the yard.

The problem is, it's on a hill. Erosion in heavy rains could make a mess of things. So, I need some fill dirt to raise it up to get it closer to level. Hmmm, looks like a nice place for a driveway.

So, I dig up the topsoil from both locations and make a pile. I then dig the driveway area out deeper and use the fill dirt from the driveway to raise the garden bed. The driveway area is about 2200 sq ft so at an average of 9", that gave me about 60 yards of fill dirt to raise the garden closer to level.

A little geotextile and 125 tons of stone and the driveway is in place.

After compacting the fill in the garden, spread out the topsoil, give it a coat of lime then 3 dump truck loads of manure to top it off. Manure after tilling is running about 8" thick.

I was hoping to wait until spring to fence it in but I can't keep the dog out of rolling around in the manure so I may have to put it up this weekend.

Come on Spring!!! Let's plant something.

Just think of all that lawn you won't have to mow anymore!

I would let it settle till spring and plow that manure down then relime it. The plants will need the decaying stuff down deep to get their roots down. If it gets hard a load of sand does wonders tilled in. That is what I did for our clay up here.