In order for my plants to flourish, I've found that amending the soil and creating raised beds does the trick (plus regular watering). Here's my husband Peter putting the finishing touches on a new bed in our garden about five years ago. Soil containment is necessary. We prefer to use native rocks.
SOIL AMENDMENT: Break up the red clay with a garden pitchfork and a sharp-edged shovel. In a wheelbarrow or a large container, throughly mix in equal parts of:
- compost - homegrown or bagged
- peat moss
- bagged garden soil
If the garden bed is large, consider having "garden mix" dirt delivered. Add peat moss.
GARDEN BED: Remember to tamp down the soil layer by layer - either by walking on it or using a garden tool. When you're ready to put in the plants -
- dig out the soil in each spot
- mix in mushroom dirt
- add Plant-tone
Again, tamping down the soil is a critical step. Press the dirt close to the plant with your hands - sometimes I wear gloves. The purpose is to give the plant's roots full contact with the soil and to eliminate air pockets.
No comments:
Post a Comment