The Steps Shaping beds Killing turf Tilling Soil amendments Edging Planting technique Mulching Watering Fertilizing Plant selection Design

Shaping Beds Spray paint Big, bold, and buxom Killing Turf Glyphosate

Tilling Equipment (rear-tine and finishing tiller) Timing is everything! – Don’t till wet! – Sometimes you can help yourself out with dry amendments.

Compost & Mushroom Compost Pros Adds fertility Adds organic matter Can improve tilth Cons Quality varies pH can be high Can cause muckiness

Pine Fines Pros Always dry Improves tilth Adds organic matter (slowly) Anti-septic Breaks down slowly Cons Low fertility Expensive A little harder to find

Peat Moss Pros Improves tilth Lowers pH Can dry soil Breaks down slowly Cons Expensive Adds no fertility

Add amendments in increments. Add 2-3 inches, then till deeply Add 2-3 more inches, till again

Planting Technique Soil compaction Break up root balls Density of planting Distribute your weight using plywood boards.

Hardwood Mulch Pros Attractive Works as a weed barrier Cheap Cons Can become hydrophobic Can become anaerobic Builds up over years

Pine Mulch Pros Light weight Attractive Porous Cons Expensive Does not suppress weeds well Can wash away

Pine Straw Pros Porous Attractive Light weight Labor-saving Cons Expensive Availability issues A “different” look

Wood Chips Pros Cheap Porous Cons Less attractive Uneven quality

Annuals Water Preferences No easy answer Depends on soil conditions Depends on temperatures Depends on the time of year Depends on the species Can depend on the cultivar Probably won’t respond well to turf watering schedules

At the CZBG, we use both Liquid Early season applications Quick boost when plants look weak Short-term results Slow Release Granular Micronutrients Labor-saving Release through the season Especially good for containers

Sun Angelonia Begonia (with water) Coleus (with water) Cleome Cyperus (with water) Dahlia Dichondra Evolvulus Euphorbia Gomphrena Grasses Hibiscus Lantana Lobularia Marigold Papyrus (with water) Pelargonium Petunia Pentas Sweet Potato Verbena Vinca Zinnia

Shade Begonia Caladium Coleus (not deep shade) Hypoestes Impatiens (not walleriana) Plectranthus Torenia

Dry Bidens Chrysocephalum Euphorbia Some grasses Lantana Pentas Portulaca Verbena Vinca Zinnia

Wet Caladium Colocasia Cyperus Gomphrena Hibiscus

Plant Trials Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens – Ohio State University Clark County Extension Annual Trials (Pam Bennett)

Plant Trials Colorado State University Cornell University JC Raulston Arboretum Michigan State University Penn State University Google search will turn up more

Design Big Dumb Dense Colorful

Plants to Succeed With Begonia (Braveheart, and Big and Whopper Series) Coleus Dahlia Mystic Illusion Impatiens (Sunpatiens, Bounce, and Divine Series) Lantana Pennisetum (P. rubrum and Vertigo) Petunia (Supertunias and others) Sweet Potato Vine Zinnia (Star and Zahara Series) Zinnia Uproar Rose