Planning New Beds for Fall Planting

With the plants you remove or divide this fall, why not plan a new bed or beds in another area of the garden? Fall is the best time to plan and prepare a new bed, whether a flower or vegetable garden. The first step is to decide the location of the new bed.

From a design point of view, the bed should be located so that it fits in with the existing garden. It should be situated so that you can see and enjoy it from various perspectives such as from the kitchen window or from your favorite sitting spot.

To prepare the soil, the first step is to kill or remove all of the existing vegetation. Smothering the plants with straw or plastic, or digging the soil and removing existing vegetation are two methods to accomplish this.

The next step is to spread compost, as thickly as your supply allows, all over the surface of the area. If you are planning to plant the bed this fall, then dig or till the material into the bed. If you won't be planting until the spring, such as with a new vegetable garden, leave the compost/manure mixture on the top. It can be worked in during the planting stage next spring.

Today's photo was taken at the WPC community garden at Idaho Street and Park Avenue in Mercer.

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