The Well-Tended Perennial Garden The Essential Guide to Planting and Pruning Techniques, Third Edition

Bed PreParation: insurance for success 43

You can see that an area as small as 100 sq. ft. requires quite a bit of soil amendment—1 cu.
yd. of compost and a minimum of 2 1/2 or 3 bales (each 4 cu. ft.) of Canadian sphagnum peat
moss. An eyeball estimate for such an area probably would come up short of the actual organic
matter needed, leaving the gardener wondering why the perennials didn’t flourish despite the
amendments to the new bed.
If you are amending several beds at one time and working with many yards of soil, keeping
track of the number of wheelbarrow loads of soil that have been added is helpful for ensuring
that the appropriate amount is incorporated in each bed. Approximately 4 1/2 heaping
6-cu.-ft.-capacity wheelbarrows make 1 cu. yd.

Soil recipe for success

Different people swear by many different soil recipes. I will share the formula I have used in my
own business, Horticultural Classics & Consultations. The perennials double or triple in size in
their first year using these amendments and techniques.
Keep in mind that my technique might not be appropriate for all gardens in all areas. In arid
gardens in the western United States, for example, less is more when it comes to organic matter.
Plants adapted to lean soil like lavender, helianthemum, santolina, and some drought-tolerant
western natives often perform poorly in organic-rich soils. However, this formula has given me
great success in creating thriving perennial gardens.

horticultural claSSicS & conSultationS’

Secret recipe

2 in. of compost blend: 1/3 leaf humus, 1/3 composted biosolids, and 1/3 soil

(The soil portion contains a small percentage of composted yard waste

and has a 5 percent organic matter content.)

2 in. of sphagnum peat moss

Although I am always looking at new methods and materials that may be better from a
horticultural or economic perspective, I have been very pleased with the results of our soil
preparation techniques. I have tried many different soil amendments and am happiest with
this combination. I encourage you to experiment and find out what works best for you. After
all, much of the fun of gardening is experimentation.
I hope this chapter has given you a better awareness of the importance of proper soil
preparation. To summarize the steps of this fundamental element in perennial garden success:

1. Test the soil.


2. Outline the area with a garden hose and spray with glyphosate. Wait 14 days.
   Repeat the application if not all perennial weeds are killed.


3. Add 4 in. of organic matter (a variety of organic matter is best and it’s best to have
   it tested to determine the nutrient analysis and organic matter content) and till it
   into the existing soil to a depth of 8 to 12 in. Creating slightly raised beds, perhaps
   outlined in stone, is often the best approach.


4. Plant, being careful to avoid compaction of the newly prepared bed.


5. Wait for outstanding results.