Work the soil when it is moist, but not wet. Turn the soil over to a depth of at least 12 inches. Add 2-3 inches of compost and turn it into the bed. Either cover the bed with a thick (3-4") layer of mulch or use a weed and feed to help keep weed seeds from germinating.
Make sure to rake away rocks or other debris from the site, break up large clods of dirt, and add compost to enrich the bed and encourage healthy plant growth. It's also a good idea to do a soil test to determine if you should add any nutrients your plants need to look their best.
Generally speaking, spring-flowering bulbs should be planted in the fall (a few weeks before first frost), while summer-flowering bulbs should be planted in the spring (a few weeks after last frost).
Gardening in the fall provides a longer period with more 'good' days, as compared to the often tumultuous spring season. Plus, if you plant in fall you'll end up ahead of the game and won't have to rush to get everything done after winter. In fact, a good strategy is to plant perennials when you plant your fall bulbs.
The latest time to plant for most vegetables would be the second week in June with a short harvest time. If planting crops that mature within 50 days, you could plant those as late as the last week in June, but keep in mind the weather will be turning cooler, especially at night. Cool crops are best for late plantings.
A Fabric Barrier is the Best Barrier
Purchasing a fabric barrier to prevent weeds in your flower beds is the best way to prevent them from growing.
How deep should you dig a flower bed? How deep you should dig a flower bed will ultimately depend on the types of flowers that will be planted. The minimum depth should be at least 6” as the majority of plants will need a depth of 6-12” deep. 12” is also a safe bet.
Use garden soil.
It's essentially topsoil that's been enriched with compost or other organic material that's beneficial for plant growth.
No matter where you garden, it's worth improving the quality of the topsoil you have available. After all, plants rely on topsoil—the uppermost layer of the earth's surface—for water and necessary nutrients.
If your flower or vegetable bed gets dried out or is exposed to organic matter that increases acidity (such as pine needles), adding fresh topsoil will improve its composition and raise the soil pH closer to neutral. To ensure optimal growing conditions, replenish topsoil as needed.
Adding organic matter in the form of compost and aged manure, or using mulch or growing cover crops (green manures), is the best way to prepare soil for planting. Adding chemical fertilizers will replenish only certain nutrients and do nothing for maintaining good, friable soil.
One of the best mulches to prevent weeds in your garden is wood chips, also known as wooden mulch. Wood chips, including graded fine bark or pine mulch, won't decompose as quickly as other mulch types, giving you a long-term solution to weed control.
Vinegar. Acetic acid is the active ingredient that makes vinegar a weed killer. White vinegar contains about 5% acetic acid. This level of acetic acid burns the tops off weeds but is less likely to kill anything with well-established roots.
To kill weeds, some amateur gardeners recommend combining Epsom salt and Dawn dish soap. Together, these household items create a potent mixture, so only use it in places you wish to eliminate weeds, such as a patio or sidewalk permanently.
Once the grass is dead, amend the soil with topsoil or compost, combining it well using a rototiller or mattock and rake. As long as you have left the plastic for an adequate amount of time to fully kill the roots, you don't need to remove the dead roots. They won't regrow and will decompose and nourish the soil.
If you're planning on adding a garden to your landscape, fresh topsoil is a must. The best course of action requires you to mix around 3 inches of topsoil into your garden before planting any flowers. After the topsoil is in place, you'll need to use a tiller to thoroughly combine the garden dirt with the new topsoil.
The best way to make planting beds is to keep the soil at or below the original level. Beside the sidewalk it should be 3 inches below the level of the sidewalk so that mulch can be added. Being lower than the lawn grass also works better than being too high.
Mid-August to mid-October is an ideal time of year to plant new trees, though, that time frame can be stretched into November and December. To be 100% sure, measure soil temperature early in the morning for a few, consecutive days. If your soil is consistently 50° F or higher, you're good to plant.
Our fall planting season started in September, but October is still a great time to your fall garden started. With a little protection from our occasional frosts, you'll be able to reap a harvest through the winter.
Some fast growing fall crops like lettuce and radishes can be planted into late September, but many desirable fall crops like broccoli and carrots need several months of prime-growing conditions to mature before frost and low light levels set in.