Preparing a New Garden Spot

Yes…this is what I’ve been doing this week! We have decided to expand our garden about about two times what we had and so I have been very busy getting this ready. With this front-and-center on my mind, I thought I would share what I’ve been doing!

Garden bed preparation is very important to long-range success. Taking the time to do it right from the start can make a big difference.

Mark the new garden bed with a rope. If your new garden area doesn’t have grass get rid of any unwanted plants or weeds. Pull them or dig them – no chemicals! If there is grass, leave a narrow strip between the garden and the lawn as a separation. If you cultivate grass or weeds, pieces of grass or weeds may pop up again after planting the new garden.

Loosen the soil about a foot deep with a tiller or a pitchfork. Add about 2 inches of organic matter and work this in until it’s blended well with the soil.

Compost from a variety of decayed plant materials is the best type of organic matter. Composted municipal leaves, mushroom soil, cow or horse manure or bagged peat moss also work well. Organic matter adds nutrients and improves soil drainage. It also adds air space to encourage root growth.

Water the new garden bed and wait a week to see what weeds come up. Lightly cultivate again to get rid of these weeds.

Put down three inches of mulch over everything. You can either mulch first and then make planting holes or plant first and then mulch around the plants later. Place wet newspaper over the bare ground first. Top this with 2 inches of mulch.

Your result should be a neatly edged, slightly mounded garden bed that will become a beautiful sight to see. Bonus: No need for diet supplements when you are working as hard as I have been lately! Calorie-burning overtime!

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