How to start a flower bed?
Question:I live in NC and i have this horrible, hard, red clay dirt in my yard. i want to plant sun loving annuals b/c i have full sun in the front. do i need to soften the soil or put lots of planting soil on top of it and plant my flowers in that? hurry, i already bought flowers and i need to plant them before they die:)
Answers:
I'm from OK and we are loaded with red clay soil. Several of my beds were just as you have described and this is my recipe for beautiful healthy beds. Turn over your soil with a shovel and rototill the bed. After you've loosened the soil then add sand, dried grass clippings, peat, manure, and store bought top soil. After you've added the amendments then till the soil again to mix together. Cover the amended soil with straw and water frequently. Since growing season is almost over this is the perfect time for you to get your bed ready for next spring. Every year you amend your soil the better it will get. You can't even tell I started with almost pure clay.
Wherever you are going to plant the flowers turn the soil real well! It does'nt have to be a large area but it will help the roots take off! give them some miracle grow & good luck to ya!!
Dig out half the clay in the area you want to plant. Down about 3 ". Then mix in some organic soil, composted soil, or products like back to nature, or natures recipe in the remaining soil. Plant your flowers, mulch, fertilize with a balanced fert, preferably slow release fert, and water regularly.
You should dig in a good amount of compost, along with organic fertilizers like dehydrated manure and bone meal. Gypsum is a good idea to help break up the clay also. You could add some quality top soil, but the most beneficial ingredient to correct any poor soil is compost. Mulch with additional compost or other organic material to keep down the weeds, and keep in the moisture.
Since you've already bought the flowers you need to keep them healthy until you can get them in the ground. Be sure you keep them protected, in partial shade, and well watered while waiting to get them in the ground.
Check out some helpful hints here:
http://www.gardening-quick-n-easy.com/pl...
and in particular the page on soil:
http://www.gardening-quick-n-easy.com/so...
and this product also:
http://www.johnandbobs.com/product_info.
*~ Good luck 'n ENJOY your flowers! ~*
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