Process to re-do garden beds

5 years ago

Hi all,

I am a complete--I mean COMPLETE--garden novice and would love the advice of wiser folk. I bought a house last fall and gave the old owners' plants a "chance" to see if I liked their garden. The answer I learned from this summer was mostly no, so I recently took out the existing plants and also decided the existing garden bed was too small. I removed the sod for where I think I'd like the new garden bed to be (see photo-- planning to build a short retaining wall along the curve).

Now, to be honest, I'm super unsure on next steps. You can see where the old garden bed was (the raised soil), and I'm not sure what to do with that soil. It has some roots of the old plants still in it because I'm having trouble getting rid of everything. Do I have to worry about the old plants surviving and regrowing in spring? Is there a way to prevent that? Do I leave all the old soil there? Do I simply spread mulch over the entire bed, leave it over winter, and plant what I want in spring? Do I do some other thing I haven't thought of?

So, to summarize, how do you effectively clean out an old garden and prepare it for new plants? As I've said, I've never gardened before, and I am not sure on anything. So, sorry in advance for my ineptitude, and I really appreciate ANY direction. Even three word answers.

Zone 5a here - Wisconsin USA.

Thanks and stay safe!

Featured Answer

Christopher CNC

5 years ago

In general you do not need to worry about old roots in the soil. You do not need to remove any soil unless you have a drainage problem.

What if anything comes back in the spring depends on what was in there and how much of it you got out. You can dig out any remnants then.

For now, yes just cover it in a nice layer of mulch. That will make the soil softer and the planting easier in the spring. If you are planning on winter hardy shrubs for this bed, there may still be time for a fall planting. Your too far north for me to say.

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Comments (8)

Merina Witz
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Christopher!! You have set my mind at ease on this. I think I am still ok to plant bulbs for the bed. We had only one day so far this year where temps got to 32, it's been pretty warm.

Appreciate your advice!
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callirhoe123
5 years ago
Yes, you can plant bulbs, put down a nice mulch and spend the winter dreaming over plant catalogues:) Just spread the mounded soil around the bed with a rake.
Merina Witz thanked callirhoe123
ceilsan32
5 years ago
You are too far north to safely plant anything other than Spring bulbs. Follow the planting directions, noting than a thin layer of coarse sand at the bottom of the hole will improve drainage. Give sufficient space between bulbs for their spreading, unless you want to lift them in a few years.

Note that deer will treat tulips as caviar and squirrels dig up crocus bulbs. Daffodils are safe because they contain naturally occuring arsenic.there are many varieties in different colors and sizes. Don't forget to place bulb food into the planting holes. Most hyacinths will remain unscathed, although the heavy/fuller ones may need some support (come Spring), so they don't fall over.

Iris work well in zone 5, as will alliums, scilla, glory of the snow, etc.

You can spend the winter browsing gardening books for next year's plantings.

Enjoy your new home and welcome to gardening!
Merina Witz thanked ceilsan32
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years ago
A couple of points. Daffodils do contain toxins but not arsenic. Also bulb food isn't a necessity. And personally I’d plant closely to get a good impact immediately and move them in a few years if necessary rather than have a sparse show several years. Finally, be generous with bulbs and, whatever you do, please don’t plant them in rows.
Merina Witz thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
Merina Witz
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thank you all!! Appreciate it so much! I've shredded my fall leaves and spread it around the bed for mulch, and will plant some daffodils and alliums soon :) I've seen deer in my backyard so I think I'll just stick with deerproof colors.

"whatever you do, please don’t plant them in rows." - Ha! Will do (or rather, will not do)!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
btw, it is not too late to plant in zone 5!! If the plant is fully hardy for your area and zone, you can still technically plant as long as the soil is workable.
Merina Witz thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Merina Witz
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the reassurance! I won't have time to plant for a few days yet and I wasn't sure if it was getting too late - the soil still seems workable so that makes me feel better.