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Once you have established
the shape of your garden bed (laying out a hose to establish the
shape is a good way to "see" how the size and shape of the bed will
look when it's complete), you're ready to begin to create your new garden.
First cut around the perimeter of the bed then remove the sod. Use it to patch bare
places in your lawn or break it up and dig it into the garden, where it will decompose.
Spade or fork over the soil to a depth of 12" to 15". You will need this depth for good
drainage. If you have large clumps of clay that will not break up easily, these will
have to be removed. Other clay particles will start to break down if you add a soil
conditioner that contains mineral particles designed to lighten heavy clay soil. This
keeps the soil more porous so that moisture, oxygen and fertilizer are distributed evenly
to plant roots.
Although some perennials are adapted to moist locations, most require a well-drained
soil. Poor drainage encourages root diseases and increases the risk of winter killing.
If you combine mineral conditioner with compost or any other organic matter (such as
peat moss, compost, hay, grass clippings, barnyard fertilizer, shredded bark, leaves
or even shredded newspaper), you'll produce a great soil for your plants.
Soil preparation should be thorough because your perennials and shrubs grow in
the same ground for many years. A complete fertilizer may be added during preparation,
such as a 5-20-20 or 5-20-10, applied at the rate of 1 to 1.5 kilograms per 10 square
meters to supply the necessary plant food to give the young plants a good start.
After thoroughly working all of the material into
the new bed, rake the area level and you are ready
to plant.
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