Hello!

I'm redoing half a yard which is very boggy in winter. It dries right up in spring and summer, the soil is clay-loam. Anyway! As a result of the bogginess and some other things, it's kind of uneven in some places - some areas it's just a slight dip, other places it's about 4 inches. I removed A LOT of blackberry brambles and that portion (300 sq ft) is at the original level of the yard, nice and high and dry.

I am going to be laying cardboard, then the dirt (and woodchips for this year's pathways) to make mounded (or contained - depending upon the budget) raised beds. I'm wondering if I should bring in a bit of soil before laying cardboard, just to even things out a little bit - I know it'll settle, though.

The amount of soil/compost I'll be bringing in is a lot (especially considering I have to get it ALL in with a wheelbarrow, through a narrow gate) somewhere around 20 yards. Should I bring in a smaller load before hand, just to get a more even starting surface? Or should I just lay the cardboard out, and pile it on. I know there'll be a bit of settling either way.

Re-doing the entire yard with machines isn't an option and if it were, it'd be the last one.

(If it matters, about 95% of what I'm growing will be flowers.)

Thank you so much for any advice at all! I really appreciate it!