Planting Your Garden: From Bare Ground to Thriving Beds

You’ve planned. Now plant. Here’s the field-tested method to turn prepared beds into a living garden.

Ground Prep

• Double-dig 12–24" deep; remove weeds/grass.
• Test pH. Amend only if needed (lime ↑pH, sulfur ↓pH). Most plants like 6.0–7.0.
• Incorporate compost + all-purpose fertilizer. Clay? Add bark/grit. Sand? Add peat.
• Rake level.
• Place potted plants per plan (or make one now).

Planting Hole Protocol

Work evenings or cloudy days.

1. Dig 3× pot width, 2× depth.
2. Mix excavated soil with compost, peat, handful of granular fertilizer.
3. Backfill enough so pot rim = ground level.
4. Remove plant: hold stem, invert, tap pot.
5. Tease roots (unless tag says no).
6. Center in hole; backfill mix; firm gently with foot.
7. Water deeply. Install drip if hot climate.
8. Mulch (compost, bark, gravel) to suppress weeds, hold moisture.

Repeat. Step back. Enjoy.