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