What's the best foundation for a veggie garden?

Thanks Janet, this is very helpful information. Now I have a reason to keep old newspapers! Do you know if landscape fabric safe to use around food when it breaks down?

I use shredded leaves that I collect in the fall. Our leaf blower also has a vacuum bag attachment that shreds what goes into the bag. It makes wonderful mulch to put on my gardens to protect them over the winter, then I till it into the soil in my vegetable garden in the spring. I always put preen weed preventer after I plant, whether it is seeds or plants and that keeps my gardens pretty weed free except for tree seeds and any weeds that spread by roots from the edges of the gardens. I use the Preen in my vegetable garden and it has not affected the fruit of my labors as they are not considered a weed and no one has had ill effects from eating the produce and I eat my produce while I pick. I do love veggies! I also use Miracle grow for vegies that is sustained release on my veggies to make sure they get the nutrients they need and regular Miracle Grow sustained release on my other gardens. Why have to refertilize if you don't have too! I hope this helps!

Hi Michelle, I like the idea of using cardboard and I'm thinking maybe newspapers will work too as 'Janet' suggested. I wanted to simply use landscape fabric but I'm uncertain about how it will break down in the soil around food items. How do I do the chicken wire on the ground? Do you mean 'under' the plants or just on top of the cardboard? I noticed our visiting deer came back again this year. Do you know if scarecrows will deter them? I was thinking of placing screening or chicken wire over the top of the garden and tie it to the standing fence somehow. I'm not sure how I will handle the deer, woodchucks and a huge skunk! Thank you and everyone for your help.