30 Basic Perennial Garden PlantinG & Maintenance
Take the time to test the soil
to determine what kind,
and what amount, of organic
matter is appropriate to the
site. This is also a good time to
eliminate perennial weeds, and
to poke around for competing
tree roots, rocks, and other often
inevitable obstacles.
If possible, beds are best prepared in the autumn so that the new bed goes
through the freeze-thaw cycles of winter to create a more structured, friable soil.
I don’t have this luxury in my business because we are so busy and people usually
want as much done as possible when we are installing a garden in the autumn.
One of my preferred approaches is to prepare the beds and plant the woody
plants in autumn, come back the following spring to lightly retill the bed, if
needed, and then plant the perennials.
In this chapter I am going to discuss soil (not dirt) requirements for perennial
gardens in general. As always, we must remember the axiom “right plant for
right place.” Some perennials will tolerate poor clay soils, while others thrive in
dry, sandy soils. The preparation process starts by determining the existing soil
conditions. But, as I hope to make clear, we gardeners can improve on existing
conditions to enable us to grow a much wider palette of plants, including many
that may not be ideal for the original soil type.
Native plants are not to be overlooked in the selection process, as many
outstanding species can tolerate a wide variety of less-than-ideal soil conditions.
Yet, even for most of the natives, some bed preparation is beneficial if not vital to
establishment.KEY STEPS TO BED PREPARATION
A few basic steps should be followed to ensure successful bed preparation. Let’s
look at some key elements: (1) testing the soil; (2) eliminating perennial weeds;
(3) making sure the soil drains well, yet is able to hold water and nutrients; (4)
providing sufficient organic matter in the soil.Testing the soil
Testing the soil is a step all too often ignored. Having worked with a variety of
different sites for clients, I have become a firm believer in soil testing. It is the
only way to effectively determine what soil conditions you are starting with.
Experts say that in the United States alone there are approximately 15,000
different soil types. Soil should be tested to determine soil type (clay, sand, silt,
loam, or a combination of these), pH (level of acidity or alkalinity), organic
matter content, and available phosphate and potash. Phosphate is a form of