Annual & PerennialBed Preparation

Herbaceous Plants

Why Bed Preparation?

Research has indicated that approximately 80% of all plant problems are related to poor soil (DiSabato-Aust,1998).

Most residential and commercial building sites have compacted, highly disturbed soils.

Why Bed Preparation?

Most Midwestern soils are heavy clay soils that benefit from proper bed preparation.

A well prepared bed will hold moisture and nutrients while at the same time drain sufficiently well to provide oxygen to plant roots.

Steps in Bed Preparation

Step #1: Site Selection

Select a well-drained site. Avoid low-lying areas where water

collects. – More perennial plants die over winter from

soils that are too wet than from cold temperatures.

Site Selection

A well drained site

Step #1 continued

If you must plant in a low-lying area, consider making a raised bed.

Step #2: Removal of Existing Vegetation

Outline the bed area with a garden hose, paint line, or string line.

Spray the area with a non-selective, systemic herbicide such as glyphosate (Roundup). The best time to spray existing vegetation is when it’s actively growing.

Outline the Bed Area

Outline the Bed Area

Step #2 continued

If you didn’t get a good “kill” the first time, consider re-applying herbicide.

Rototill the bed after the vegetation turns brown.

Step #2 continued

If the bed is located in an established lawn consider removing the sod as an alternative to spraying with herbicide.

Sod Removal Sod was removed

with a sod cutter prior to bed construction.

Raised Bed Construction

Quality top soil

Raised Bed Construction

Every effort must be made to protect the existing lawn from equipment damage.

Raised Bed Construction

Soil is delivered to the bed site

Raised Bed Construction

“Raking-out” compacted grass

Step #3: Amend the Existing Soil with Organic Matter

The addition of organic matter (OM) improves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.

The recommendation is to add 3-4 inches of OM to the surface of the bed and then till it in to a depth of 8-12 inches.

Raised Bed Construction

Shaping the bed after incorporating OM

Step #3 continued This translates into a rate of about 25-30

percent OM on a volume basis. For example, 3 inches of OM tilled to a

depth of 10 inches would translate into 30% OM.

3 inches = .3 x 100 = 30%10 inches

Step #3 continued

Sources of OM include the following:– compost: leaf, bark, grass– composted manure– mushroom compost– sphagnum peat moss– or, combinations of the above

Is OM really that important? YES!YES! The addition of OM has The addition of OM has

been shown to been shown to increase plant growth increase plant growth from 20 - 100% from 20 - 100% (DiSabato-Aust, 1998).(DiSabato-Aust, 1998).

OM increases the OM increases the availability of all availability of all nutrients.nutrients.

OM can reduce the OM can reduce the incidence of soil-borne incidence of soil-borne diseases.diseases.

Step #4: Amend the Bed with Fertilizer

Nutrients in OM are released slowly into the soil.

Their release is dependent upon soil microbial activity.

Soil microbial activity is dependent upon the availability of moisture and warm temperatures.

Step #4 continued

Since most bed preparation is done in the spring, when temperatures are still cool and microbial activity is low, the application of fertilizer is recommended.

Phosphorous is the key element in plant establishment because of it’s roles in root development and flowering.

Step #4 continued

General fertilizer recommendations are as follows (DiSabato-Aust, 1998):– 2 pounds superphosphate (0-20-0) per 100

square feet of bed area, and– 2 pounds of 5-10-5 per 100 square feet of

bed area. Till the fertilizer in with the OM.

Step #5: Level and Plant

After all the amendments have been tilled into the soil, shape the bed with a rake.

Plant.

Planting the Bed

Positioning the plants prior to planting

The End