Create a New Garden Bed Now: Part 2

In our last issue, we learned how to choose a garden bed site and remove the sod from the area. In this issue we'll prepare the soil, control weeds from the onset and choose our plants wisely.

Preparing the soil.
Once you have removed the sod from your bed site, you will need to prepare the soil. The easiest way to do this is to rent a garden tiller if you don't already own one. If you conducted a soil test, now is the time to make the recommended soil amendments. Till the soil, along with your soil amendments, to a depth of about six inches. Add a couple of inches of compost over the bed site and work it in. If your soil has a dense, clay-like texture, work in more organic material now (not sand). It's easier to create a rich, more workable soil now than after the bed is planted.

Choosing the type of plants you will grow.
The most basic question you have to ask yourself is what you want to grow. If your garden bed is destined for vegetables, you can choose what you want to plant each spring. If you are creating a flowerbed, you need to decide what kind of flowers you want to grow: perennials, annuals or a combination of the two. Perennials, which come back each year, should be thought of as permanent additions to your yard. You can usually find them on sale in August, which also is a good time to plant them. Annuals on the other hand - such as zinnias, snap dragons and scores of others - will need to be replanted each year in spring or early summer.

Planning the flowerbed.
It's tempting to walk through a garden center and buy plants on impulse. But it also is a mistake! Do some research ahead of time by paging through gardening magazines or strolling through gardens and garden centers. Decide what you like: colors and types of plants. Be sure to read the tags on plants to determine how much sunlight they need, how big they will grow and when they will bloom. Bloom times for flowers can range from only a couple of weeks to all season long. When making decisions, remember that groupings of the same type of flower can add impact where the "one of everything" approach can look rather disjointed. Remember to plant the tallest flowers in the back of the bed, or in the center if your flowerbed is viewed from the sides as well as the front. Consider foliage color, too, to add color to your garden throughout the season, even when the blooms disappear.

Do a dress rehearsal.
So how will all of the plants you have purchased actually look in your garden? Set them - still in their pots - where you think you would like to plant them. Stand back and take a look. Make adjustments as necessary.

Plant and water.
Gently remove the plant from its container, loosen its roots with your fingers and set it in a prepared hole. Gently firm the soil around the roots to create good soil-to-root contact. Fertilize with a fertilizer for blooming plants. Water from the base of the plant.

Add mulch to finish your bed.
A two-to-three inch layer of bark mulch will help you eliminate weeds as well as conserve moisture. Before you add the mulch, fertilize your plants. This will help assure the fertilizer reaches the plant roots quickly. You can also sprinkle (according to package directions) a weed inhibitor, such as Preen® weed inhibitor, on the surface of the soil before adding mulch. Preen prevents weeds from germinating. Do not use it if you also are planting flower seeds in the bed - it will prevent them from sprouting as well. It will not affect the plants that are already growing. Congratulations! You have a new garden bed to enjoy now and for years to come. A little weekly maintenance - pulling weeds, removing dried flower heads and watering - will help assure a beautiful bed all season long.

_{Preen® is a registered trademark of Lebanon Seaboard Corporation.}