There never seems to be enough room for all the plants you want to grow. If space allows, create new garden beds to expand your planting space and increase the beauty of your landscape.
Start by evaluating your current landscaping and plantings. Perhaps extending an existing garden bed or connecting two smaller beds is a better option than creating a whole new garden.
Regardless of the option you choose, start planning the proposed expansion or new garden bed. Always call 811 first or register online at https://call811.com/811-In-Your-State at least three business days before you begin digging using any equipment or tools that disturb the soil, including hand tools. This is a free service that protects people from injuries and repair costs that can result from hitting or damaging an underground utility line.
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Begin your project by fencing off the area with rope or hose. Avoid tight corners or narrow lawn edges that are difficult to mow or require hand trimming. Adjust your landscaping to avoid underground utilities whenever possible. If not, use only hand tools when digging within 18 inches of underground utilities.
Once you’re happy with the plan, do a soil test to find out how much and what type of fertilizer you need for the plants you’re growing. By testing now, you’ll have the information before it’s time to fertilize in the spring.
Next, edge the bed. Use a shovel to dig a V-shaped trench around the garden border. Or rent or borrow an electric edger to make larger jobs easier.
Once the edging is complete, remove healthy grass with a sod cutter and use it to fill in any bare patches in the lawn. Alternatively, you can create a planting bank or add it to the compost heap. Place it green side down and wait for it to decompose.
Another method is to edge the garden, cut the grass as short as possible, then cover the area with cardboard or several layers of newspaper. Cover this with several inches of organic mulch, wait for the grass and cardboard to decompose, and plant in the spring. Or push back the mulch and cut through the cardboard or newspaper if you want to plant right away.
Another effective method is to cover the new planting area with black plastic sheeting for at least four to six weeks and with clear plastic sheeting for four to six weeks during the hottest and sunniest weeks. Both methods should kill existing grass and weeds.
Once you have killed or removed the grass, now is the time to amend the soil if necessary. Add 2 to 4 inches of organic material, such as aged manure or compost, to the top 8 to 12 inches of soil. These materials improve drainage in heavy clay soils and increase water-holding capacity in fast-draining sandy or rocky soils.
After mixing in the organic matter and raking the garden until it is level and smooth, your garden is ready for planting. Or cover the soil with shredded leaves or other organic mulch to suppress weeds and prevent soil erosion for planting next spring.
Whether you plant now or wait until next spring, always choose the right plants for the growing conditions. And always call 811 before digging.
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books and is host of The Great Courses’ “How to Grow Anything” series and the nationally syndicated radio show “Melinda’s Garden Moment.” Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
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