1. Annual & Perennial Bed Preparation Herbaceous Plants

2. Why Bed Preparation? n Research has indicated that approximately 80% of all plant problems are related to poor soil (DiSabato-Aust,1998). n Most residential and commercial building sites have compacted, highly disturbed soils.

3. Why Bed Preparation? n Most Midwestern soils are heavy clay soils that benefit from proper bed preparation. n A well prepared bed will hold moisture and nutrients while at the same time drain sufficiently well to provide oxygen to plant roots.

4. Steps in Bed Preparation

5. Step #1: Site Selection n Select a well-drained site. n Avoid low-lying areas where water collects. –More perennial plants die over winter from soils that are too wet than from cold temperatures.

6. Site Selection A well drained site

7. Step #1 continued n If you must plant in a low-lying area, consider making a raised bed.

8. Step #2: Removal of Existing Vegetation n Outline the bed area with a garden hose, paint line, or string line. n 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.

9. Outline the Bed Area

11. Step #2 continued n If you didn’t get a good “kill” the first time, consider re-applying herbicide. n Rototill the bed after the vegetation turns brown.

12. Step #2 continued n If the bed is located in an established lawn consider removing the sod as an alternative to spraying with herbicide.

13. Sod Removal n Sod was removed with a sod cutter prior to bed construction.

14. Raised Bed Construction Quality top soil

15. Raised Bed Construction n Every effort must be made to protect the existing lawn from equipment damage.

16. Raised Bed Construction Soil is delivered to the bed site

17. Raised Bed Construction “Raking-out” compacted grass

18. Step #3: Amend the Existing Soil with Organic Matter n The addition of organic matter (OM) improves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. n 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.

19. Raised Bed Construction Shaping the bed after incorporating OM

20. Step #3 continued n This translates into a rate of about 25-30 percent OM on a volume basis. n 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

21. Step #3 continued n Sources of OM include the following: –compost: leaf, bark, grass –composted manure –mushroom compost –sphagnum peat moss –or, combinations of the above

22. Is OM really that important? n YES! n The addition of OM has been shown to increase plant growth from 20 - 100% (DiSabato-Aust, 1998). n OM increases the availability of all nutrients. n OM can reduce the incidence of soil-borne diseases.

23. Step #4: Amend the Bed with Fertilizer n Nutrients in OM are released slowly into the soil. n Their release is dependent upon soil microbial activity. n Soil microbial activity is dependent upon the availability of moisture and warm temperatures.

24. Step #4 continued n 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. n Phosphorous is the key element in plant establishment because of it’s roles in root development and flowering.

25. Step #4 continued n 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. n Till the fertilizer in with the OM.

26. Step #5: Level and Plant n After all the amendments have been tilled into the soil, shape the bed with a rake. n Plant.

27. Planting the Bed Positioning the plants prior to planting

28. The End