Root & Ruler field notes https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/ A free garden planning workbench with a visual bed planner, transparent calculators, crop guides, seasonal checklists, and a browser-local garden log. en-us Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT How much soil does a raised bed actually need? https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/how-much-soil-raised-bed/ https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/how-much-soil-raised-bed/ The geometry is easy. The useful answer depends on settled depth, existing fill, bag labels, and how the bed will be used. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Mulch depth is a design choice, not a default setting https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/mulch-depth-by-material/ https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/mulch-depth-by-material/ Start with the job the mulch must do, the material’s texture, and the layer already on the ground. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Plant spacing without the false precision https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/plant-spacing-without-crowding/ https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/plant-spacing-without-crowding/ A ruler gives you a repeatable layout. The seed packet and mature plant still decide how much room is sensible. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT A ‘10-inch pot’ does not tell you its soil volume https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/container-volume-not-label-size/ https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/container-volume-not-label-size/ Taper, false bottoms, nursery trade sizes, and headspace all separate a pot’s name from the mix you need. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Why one inch of rain overwhelms a small barrel https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/rain-barrel-sizing/ https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/rain-barrel-sizing/ Roof area turns modest rainfall into surprising volume. Storage, overflow, and safe use must be planned together. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Build a seed-starting window from a frost-date range https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/seed-starting-from-frost/ https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/seed-starting-from-frost/ A calendar works better when it admits weather uncertainty, variety differences, and the time seedlings need to harden off. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Measure drip output before setting a timer https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/measure-drip-before-scheduling/ https://root-and-ruler.pages.dev/field-notes/measure-drip-before-scheduling/ Emitter labels and timer minutes are not water depth. Connect flow, area, soil, and weather before automating. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT