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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> Gene -- please describe your "planting board". It sounds like something I
> could use. How do you use it? How do you make it?

I should have known. I had put it away for another year and had to go 
get it to take measurements. You probably expect me to remember the 
measurements. Hah!

It is a one-by-four board about three and a half feet long with seven 
dowels sticking out. I drilled three-quarter-inch holes every six 
inches part way through the board, inserted three-quarter-inch dowels 
that protrude two inches. I drilled pilot holes from the other side 
and put in countersunk screws to secure the dowels, one big screw per 
dowel. Can't remember how deep I drilled, probably a half inch.

Some years later I reinforced the board by screwing another one-by 
onto the top. I prepare the soil, then lay the board down and step on 
it to push the dowels into the soil. Voila, the planting holes. You 
could use a two-by instead of two one-bys, but it needs to be strong 
enough to take your weight when you stomp on it.