1. Garden Installation Rebecca Wolf and Nguyen Le
This presentation introduces students to the different steps in preparing a garden site and planting the garden.
Rebecca Wolf and Nguyen Le
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
Contributors:
Margarita Rochow, Elms Environmental Education Center
Whitney Ruppard, St. Mary’s Project, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Hester Burch, Master Gardener & Elms Environmental Education Center

2. 1. Mark the garden area
Outline the shape and size of the garden in your design, using hoses, extension cords, or rope.
Use flags or spray paint to mark the outline.
Needed supplies:
Your garden design
Tape measures
Hoses or something else for the outline
Flags or spray paint.
Refer to your garden design while laying out the shape. Tape measures are

3. 2. Remove the grass layer
Use shovels to remove the grass (turf), including the roots of the grass and weeds.
Pile the removed turf on a tarp or in buckets. It can be planted in areas that are eroding.
TIPS:
The removed turf can be planted in areas that are eroding.
Avoid walking in the garden area to prevent compaction of the soil.
When working with groups, it can be easiest to dig from the outside of the garden to the inside, so that the outline is formed and students are far enough apart not to hit each other accidently as they work.
Remove the grass and its roots. You don’t have to dig down deep for this step.

4. 3. Reduce Weeds the Easy Way
Cover the plot, using black plastic or a combination of cardboard and newspaper about month (or longer) before planting.
This kills the plants. Why?
Optional, but highly recommended.
Weigh down the covering with bricks.
After removing the cover, dig out any remaining weeds, no matter how small.
The plants do not get light or water, so they die. Plastic works better than cardboard or newspaper, but is more expensive.
Make sure the roots of the weeds are removed. Even though this method kills most weeds, some roots can grow back.

5. 4. Prepare the Ground in Your Plot
Break up the soil:
Dig down about 5 to 6 inches.
Break the dirt into small clods with a shovel, hoe, or 3-tined cultivator.
Add compost in one of the following ways:
Spread over the soil (about 2 inches deep); then blend into the soil with a shovel, 3-tined cultivator, or rake.
Or wait until you plant.

6. 5. Organize and Lay Out The Plants
Students will organize the plants on the garden site according to the design.
Make sure the plants are spaced appropriately.
For plants two feet high or smaller, space about them 1 foot apart
For larger plants, space them about 1.5 feet apart.
Recommendation: Schedule plants for delivery no more than a week before planting day. Once delivered, they must be watered daily.
For spacing plants, trees, and shrubs, see the full-size of the plant (in plant books and on-line resources or on plant tags). Ensure the plant has enough space to grow fully. To reduce weeding do not leave extra space between the plants, unless the space is part of your design.
Students can be organized into teams: some can be responsible for getting the water ready and keeping the plants watered during the planting; others can put the plants in groups; others can be responsible for laying out specific sections of the garden. It is helpful for them to know what their teams are doing beforehand, so that they can prepare themselves.

7. 6. The Art of Digging A Hole
Shape the hole like a large bowl. Avoid vertical sides.
Put the removed soil next to the hole.
Mix the soil with a cupful of compost (optional).
Dig a hole two times the width of the plant’s root ball.
Hester Burch
If you’ve already mixed compost into the soil, it isn’t necessary to add it. Most school gardens do benefit from compost.

8. 7. Remove the plant from the pot
Squeeze the container on all sides to loosen the root ball.
Using your hand as support, turn the container upside down to let the root ball slide out.
Loosen the soil a bit with your fingers.
When roots are tightly bound together, pull them apart gently.
Hester Burch

9. 8. Plant the plant
Place the root ball in the hole. The plant’s soil level should be level with the ground or existing soil.
Fill in the hole using the mixed soil.
Pat soil down gently, making sure the plant is not leaning.

10. 9. Reduce Weed Growth with Cardboard
Optional
Cardboard or newspaper can be put under mulch to help reduce weeds.
The cardboard will decompose.
Keep the cardboard 3 inches away from your plant.

11. 10. Apply mulch Apply 3 inches of shredded mulch over the garden area.
Mulch should not be right next to plant stems or tree trunks.
Keep it 2-3 inches away from the plant.
It will look like a ring around the plant.
Why do you think the mulch should not be right next to the plant?
Plants need to get moisture.
Mulch can sometimes attract bug pests.
Mulch next to trees causes roots to grow into the mulch and can cause mold.
The mulch should cover the cardboard and newspaper –
because it’s prettier that way!

12. 11. Water the plants
Water each of the plants in your garden after installation (and during installation if it is a hot day).

13. 12. Finish the installation
Fill in more mulch, if needed.
Water the entire garden again, if needed.
Pick up piles of weeds and compost them, if possible.
Plant containers can be recycled or given to a nursery.

14. 13. Have a celebration!