By Melinda Myers
Now’s the time to start that new garden you’ve always wanted. Cool, usually drier, fall weather makes it easier on the gardener and better on the plants. Plus, the garden to-do list is often a bit shorter this time of year.
Start by locating the placement, size, and shape of this new garden. Use a rope or hose to outline the area. Avoid tight corners or creating narrow grass borders that will be difficult to mow or require hand trimming.
Once satisfied with the layout, take a soil test and decide how to kill the existing lawn and weeds as needed. A soil test will tell you how much and what type of fertilizer you will need for the plants you are growing. Testing now means you’ll have the information in hand when it is time to fertilize in spring.
Next, edge the bed. Use a shovel to dig a V-shaped trench around the border of the garden. You can rent or borrow a power edger to make larger jobs easier.
Once the edging is complete, remove healthy grass with a sod cutter and use it to fill bare spots in the lawn. Alternatively, you could create a planting berm, or simply add it to the compost pile. Just place it green side down and wait for it to decompose.
Another method for clearing the grass is to cover the area with cardboard topped with several inches of organic mulch and wait for the grass and cardboard to decompose. With this method, you may want to finish the soil preparation, and begin planting next spring after the grass and cardboard have broken down completely.
For quicker results and control of perennial weeds, try a total vegetation killer. These products kill the top and roots of the good and bad plants they touch. Read and follow label directions carefully. Start your soil preparation after the required waiting period has passed.
The next step, a very important one, is soil improvement. It is easier to repair and improve the soil before you plant. Plus, time spent now yields years of good results. Add two to four inches of organic matter like aged manure, peat moss, or leaf compost to the top 8 to 12 inches of soil. These materials improve the drainage in heavy-clay soil and increase the water holding ability in fast-draining sandy or rocky soils.
Check the labeling on the bag when purchasing these products. Make sure the product you select is USDA and STA certified, like Hsu leaf compost (HsuGrowingSupply.com). USDA BioPreferred-certified products are derived from plants and other renewable products, providing an alternative to petroleum-based goods. Look for United States Composting Council’s STA certified compost that is a renewable, consistent, high-quality product made from locally available organic material.
Once you mix in the organic matter, rake the garden level and smooth. Your garden is now ready to plant. Fill it with spring flowering bulbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs. If you need time to plan the garden during the winter, cover the plot with shredded leaves or other organic mulch to suppress weeds and prevent soil erosion, so you will be ready to plant once spring arrives.
In either case, your efforts this fall will reduce your workload next spring and shorten the time until more beauty in the landscape.
Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, and columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio segments, and is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.