Backyard Botanical Complete Gardening System Detailed Review

Okay, so I know it has been some time since I have posted anything to my blog.  I don't really have any excuses, except that I have been extremely busy (see: overwhelmed with life).  However, in my opinion, the wait has been worth it.  I am so excited to tell you about this:

Backyard Botanical Complete Gardening System

Pretty, right?  RIGHT?!!  It wasn't easy, but if the set-up was the hardest part, I am more than happy to be past it.

Please note I am a details type of girl, so this post is super detailed.  Maybe next time I should break something this big up into smaller posts?  I'm not sure....okay so here goes...all you ever wanted to know about the....wait for it....drum roll, please:

Backyard Botanical Complete Gardening System by Leisure Time

photo via Sam's Club

SPECIFICATIONS
(via Sam's Club Website)

20" High raised beds

Natural decay resistant cedar

Automatic irrigation system

Pest-proof flooring & fencing

Innovative polyethylene planting tubs

Coil Garden hose with sprayer

Built-in trellis for climbing plants

Holds 1.5 cubic yards of soil

Detailed assembly manual

Ships in two boxes

MY REASONS (aka justifications)
I have been coveting this garden since 2009 (!!) and could never bring myself to spend the money.  It is pricey, but after getting it all together, even my husband agrees it is well made and well worth the cost.  Even though we live on a little over 2.5 acres, it is extremely hard to grow anything.  We have rabbits, squirrels, gophers, owls and even the occasional coyote.  Our dog, Gracie brings us "treats" often.  Ew.  Those pests demolish everything from flowers to grass to our friend Ray's electrical wiring in his car!  Twice.  Anyway, I knew I for sure did not want to put a ton of time and effort into planting a garden only to have the animals ruin everything.

That was my Reason #1 for buying this system.
Reason #2:  I do not want to deal with weeds.  Sorry, but this mama is not interested.
Reason #3:  Raised gardening is easier on your knees and your back.  Isn't it?
Reason #4:  I just liked it, okay?

THE COST
I originally saw it at my local Sam's Club toward the end of Summer in 2009 for a little less than $400.00.  Sam's club always brings back their seasonal Summer items each year, right?  NOT.  My bad for not buying it then.  Since that time, I have watched and waited for it every Spring & Summer.  Just hoping.  I knew they had it online, but heck if I was going to pay shipping on this sucka.  When I purchased mine (March 22nd, 2013), this website was selling this same system for quite a bit more than what I paid: $1099.  It is now listed for $599.00 (including shipping).  Home Depot and Sears both carry it for $799.  I bought mine from Sam's Club for $575 (including shipping).  Tax was not included, so my total with shipping and tax came to $621.  Fair to say, it did take about a week longer than the estimated time of arrival I was given.

THE PREP
Before we could even think of setting something this big up, I knew we had to figure out where we were going to place it.  The instructions say, "For best gardening results select a level area that will receive at least 6 hours of sunshine per day."  I chose somewhere close to my house, because let's face it, I am not about to be gardening all the way down at the other end of our property.  Period.  Also, I needed a sunny location and access to water.  I was already asking a lot of my husband without adding, "Please run a water line for me, too."

I mentioned where I thought I wanted it and before I could even consider other places, he was already out there prepping the ground!  Hmmm, note to self: decide if I really want the driveway re-paved and an electrical gate with call box.  I digress.

First, he measured the space we would need for the actual garden (8x8) and then an extra foot in order to leave room for pavers or ground cover.  Next, he spray painted lines to use as guides.  Then, he fired up our rototiller and got to work.  All in all, it took less than an hour to prep the ground from start to finish.  It was super soft when he was done.  Like so soft, that my Havaianas literally sunk into the ground.  Anywho, here are some before, during and after pics:

Spray painted lines to use as guides.

Another view of area to be tilled.

I had no idea we actually owned one of these.

My husband, Sal, hard at work.

First turn.

You get the picture, eh?

Finished with the hard part.

Ground tilled and smoothed with the flat side of a rake.

Random bird.  Thank goodness Gracie was asleep.

THE ASSEMBLY
Once my Backyard Botanical Complete Gardening System finally arrived, we immediately put it together it sat for two days.  I wasn't about to touch that thing on my own,  I don't even have a working drill gun at the moment and my furniture putting-together-skills are limited to IKEA furniture.  No joke.  Besides, it looked like it might rain and I for one was not about to start a project only to get rained on.

We asked our friend, Lucas to help assemble the garden put the garden together by himself.  He arrived around 8:30 AM with all of the required tools and was here until about 8:00 PM.  Settle Down, I fed him.  Geez.  Also, my husband, another friend and our son helped toward the end.  Oh, and I supervised.  (Pretty much walked around pointing out things while trying not to ruin my pedicure.)  Just saying.

I would like to mention, Lucas said the biggest problem with the assembly was that the "tools required" section did not list all of the tools required (!!).  Thank goodness he is a man of many tools and happened to have all of the extra drill bits and other paraphernalia required to complete the job.  Also, be advised: not a single hole was pre-drilled or marked.  It was a lot of work.  I highly recommend hiring a skilled person to assemble this thing.  Had I begun on my own, I would have been upset, to say the least.

Lucas, reading the directions before starting.

Organizing the materials and still reading.  A boy who actually reads!

Base put together.

Adding the plastic liner.

We happened to have a ton of bricks laying around, so we used those to create a foundation of sorts under the edges of the garden.  Mainly to help level the area.  Also, (I forgot to take a picture of this step) prior to installing the black plastic material included in the kit, we added extra mesh wire below the plastic to ensure pesky critters would be less likely to eat through the plastic.  The guys used a utility knife to cut it to fit and a staple gun to attach it to the cedar frame.

My 8-year-old son wanted to help, too.

Assembling the back.

A drill gun is a must for this project.

After the garden was fully assembled, we sprayed two coats of Thompson's WaterSeal and then used a paint brush to make sure it was evenly applied and in all of the crevices.  Dry time was approx 30 minutes between coats.

Dry brushing Thompson's WaterSeal

Lucas, done for the day.

It was around 8 PM at this point - I wanted to quit for the day, my husband - not so much.

Alas, our work continues on until early AM.

My husband and I continued into the night.  We added the soil, and spread it evenly.  The directions call for 1.5 Cubic Yards of soil.  In order to top the garden beds off, we used a bit more than that.  I really wanted to use Miracle Grow, but my husband swears what he bought is way better.

We also installed the included automatic soaker hose irrigation system with timer.  Many of the reviews for this system suggested testing the hose prior to installation, but my husband said the hose was a high-end brand and it would be fine.  It was.  I was way too tired to argue. 

Professional Grade Weed Blocker Cloth

My husband decided it would be in our best interest to lay down a roll of professional grade weed blocker cloth underneath the mulch.  We unrolled, measured the length and cut to fit.  We did this on all 4 sides, as well as in the middle.  It took the two of us approx. 40 minutes to complete this step.  Next, we spread the mulch on top of the weed blocker cloth.

Mulch Complete

It was well past 2 AM at this point.  All I wanted to so was take a shower and go to bed.  In the end, it was well worth all of the hard work.  The next day, I woke up to this:

I am in LOVE.

My husband made a trip to our local nursery and purchased a whole bunch of different plants.

Plant Placement:  Decisions, decisions...

I really wanted to get the plants into the soil, but I knew my son would want to help with this part, so I waited until he was home from school.  He was such a huge help and even more excited than I was.

Plants have been planted.  My child is happy.

In order to maximize my planting space, I asked my husband to make some rain gutters to hang from the side of my garden.  Fortunately for me, his company makes custom, seamless rain gutters, so it was easy peasy.  He installed them that night, while I was asleep.

Seamless Rain Gutters by HASCO filled with Potting Soil

The next morning, I planted chives and onion bulbs in one gutter and strawberry plants in the other.

Day time shot of the completed garden and gutters.

THE ADDITIONAL COSTS
Galvanized Mesh Screen: $20
Professional Grade Weed Blocker Cloth: $49
Patio Plus Soil:  approx. $150
Mulch for ground cover:  approx:  $100
Thompson's Water Seal: $16
Sprayer for Water Seal: $10
Rain Gutters:  approx. $70
Plants, pots and additional soil: approx. $200

WHAT I PLANTED
Basically, what I wanted in my garden were vegetables that would allow me to make salads, a nice stir fry once in a while, salsa and also some herbs for roasting chicken.  Too bad, so sad - lettuce, carrots and broccoli are out of season in my area.

I am currently growing thyme, basil, rosemary, cilantro, chives, a variety of onions, chili peppers, jalapeño, 4 types of tomatoes, celery, green, red, and yellow bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, 2 types of cucumbers, asparagus, 2 types of sage, gingermint and strawberries.  Oh and some aloe vera plants recovered from my dad's house after the fire.  In addition to all of this, I had my husband plant lemon and lime trees near by.  We already have about 7 avocado trees as well as different types of oranges.

Eventually, I will plant lettuce, carrots, broccoli, corn, potatoes, watermelon, pumpkin and some other things I am sure I will think of later.

THE PROGRESS
Week one:  The pesky rodents have yet to discover my garden.  There are no weeds.  My back is not sore.  It looks absolutely gorgeous.  Seriously, almost all of my friends are envious.  I'm envious and it's my garden!!

The only problem we have encountered so far is either the original washers included with the kit for the timed watering system or the timer system itself (yet to be determined) needs to be replaced.  They leak no matter how much we tighten the fittings.  My husband is going to buy some different washers to try and fix the leak.  I will report back once we have figured out what the problem is.

Back View:  Cucumbers, beans, squash & zucchini

So far, so good.  The following pictures were taken 10 days after planting.  All of the plants are doing well and seem to be growing.  Baby tomatoes and strawberries are starting to peek through.

Tomatoes

Strawberries

I am so proud of my garden.  It was a lot of work, but we were able to do it as a family and that is what matters the most.  I can't wait to pick my own organic produce right from my yard.

So, what do you guys think?  Have any of you started or plan on starting a garden this year?  Please comment below with any tips and tricks you have for gardening in the soon to be Summer weather.  This is my first garden, so I am going to need all of the help I can get!

If you loved this post, please give my garden a 5 star rating over at HGTV's Rate My Space.  Thanks for reading :)