Hoe Down Time! Dig It!
by Susan Bell
Planning and planting a new garden or preparing an existing garden for spring may seem like a huge undertaking, but once you dig in you’ll find it’s easier than you think!
As I write this article, Old Man Winter is still treating us to a light snowfall. The gloomy days are running neck and neck with the sunny ones. If you are like me, you can’t wait to see the sun and start digging in the earth and preparing for spring gardening. Here are some quick tips to get your started.
Winter Cleanup
Well before the average last frost (estimated to be April 7, 2010 for the St. Louis area per www.farmersalmanac.com) you can begin preparing Spring flower beds.
Rake dead leaves and winter debris to allow light and air to reach the soil. At the time of the last freeze, remove the old, worn-out mulch or fluff it up with a garden rake.
If you see that the cycles of freezing and thawing have pushed some of your perennials partially out of the soil, replant them immediately to prevent exposing their roots to air.
Remove any dead material remaining from last season’s growth from perennials and groom ornamental grasses. When the soil has become dry enough to pick up clumps and see them easily fall apart, you’ll know that it’s time to begin digging new flower beds and add compost to your existing beds for flowering plants.
If you have roses in your flowerbeds, remove their winter mulch after the final freeze and prune them before new leaves begin to develop.
Defining Flowerbeds
If you are creating a new flowerbed, consider choosing an interesting shape such as an oval or kidney shape. Flowerbeds, unless along the edge of the house or driveway, are boring when they are simple squares or rectangles. To create an interesting garden, use a garden hose on the ground to experiment with different shapes until you find the one that feels right to you.
Using an edging tool or sharp spade, cut into the soil along the outline, being careful not to damage the hose. Creating an edge for your flower beds not only looks attractive, but it prevents grass from encroaching into your plantings. Remove grass and sod with a garden fork and add it to your compost pile. To cut down on future maintenance, consider installing a permanent edge using brick, stone or other permanent material.
If you have an existing flowerbed, now is the time to do a quick sketch of where the spring flowering bulbs are located. This helps when you begin planting annuals and perennials in the same bed.
Soil Preparation
It takes a little time, work and investment to prepare your soil, but your plants will benefit in the long run. Work the soil to remove any rocks or hidden debris to about six to eight inches deep, working around any existing plants that you want to keep. Compost and peat moss should be added and worked into the soil as well.
Creating your own compost can save money. One rule of thumb is to use about five pounds of rich compost material per 100 square feet of flower bed. Distribute four inches of compost over the ground and work it into the soil. If your soil has poor drainage, incorporate some sand into the mixture to compensate. A power garden tiller can greatly shorten the time it takes to create new flower beds and incorporate compost.
If you want to know more about your soil type, the Kemper Center for Home Gardening at the Missouri Botanical Gardens provides a soil testing service. Call the Center for Home Gardening at (314) 577-9562 prior to bringing in samples. Visit www.mobot.org for additional details. The purpose of this service is to help you make fertilizer decisions and guide you in their application.
Plan Your Garden
Create a drawing of your flowerbeds and use the sketch for planning flowering-plant placement. Consider spacing and mature plant sizes. For flowerbeds that are seen only from the front, position the tallest plants in the back, then medium-height ones in the middle area and the shortest in front. If the flowerbed is viewed from all sides, plant the tallest plants in the center, surrounded by mid-sized ones with the smallest along the perimeter. And don’t forget to consider the wildlife in your area. If you have an unprotected yard with deer in the neighborhood, you’ll want to lean toward deer-resistant plants.
Another consideration when designing your garden is plants’ bloom times. Equally distribute early bloomers and late bloomers throughout the flowerbed so that the entire garden will have color throughout the growing season.
Choose a wide array of colors, shapes and foliage to add interest. You might want to check out the following link for Missouri Botanical Garden’s Peak Bloom Time Summary to determine when plants bloom: www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/blmsum.asp.
Planting Flowerbeds
Using your design sketch as a guide, position plants in your garden, making sure to allow plenty of room for root growth. If planting seedlings, dig a hole large enough to allow the roots to spread, and add a teaspoon of bone meal to each hole. Position the plant to the proper depth and back-fill the hole, pressing soil firmly to prevent air pockets. Then water it thoroughly.
Mulching Beds
While mulch is not mandatory, it’s very helpful in weed control and adds a finished look to your garden. It also helps retain moisture and highlight colorful flowers. Choose the mulch that you like best and spread a thick layer (two to four inches) over the exposed soil.
Weeds are usually the first growth to appear in spring. Get a jump on weed control by pulling up their root systems to ensure they do not grow again.
With a little hard work, you will be enjoying your beautiful landscape for many years to come.