How to Prepare a Planting Bed

In order to prepare a planting bed, you need to get rid of any grass, tree roots and any debris that might be in your way. You will need to be sure that the planting bed is in an area conducive to growing whatever you are planting—do you need full sun? Partial sun? Full shade? You must also take into consideration the type of soil you have where you choose to create your planting bed—do you have good planting soil or sand?

Instructions

1. Mark off where your planting bed or garden will be located. If you are landscaping, be sure you mark off enough room for the types of plants you will be growing. If you will be growing large plants, don’t forget to take that into consideration when you mark off the size of your bed. You can buy a can of marking paint to mark off your garden or planting bed, or you can outline it with a rope or garden hose.

2. Clear out the grass and weeds where you will be planting with vegetation killer. There are many options to choose from. Take a trip to your local home and garden store and find a chemical that suits your needs. Remember to read the labels—some weed killers kill anything it touches, some kill certain weeds. You should always assume that whatever it touches, dies, even if the label does not say that.

3. Dig out the grass and weeds. Herbicides usually take three or four days to work. Sometimes, after three days, the grass and weeds still look green, but they are dead.

4. Cover the planting bed with newspaper. Lay it on thick—use no less than five layers of newspaper.

5. Put about ten inches of topsoil in the bed. If you are creating this planting bed against a wall, make the soil a bit higher in the back of the bed (against the wall), so water can drain away from the wall. Be picky about the topsoil. Make sure it is rich in color; you do not want a light, sandy topsoil.

6. Plant flowers or vegetables and enjoy your new plant bed or garden!