Things You'll Need:
- Garden shovel Finished compost Peat moss Garden rake Organic mulch such as buckwheat hulls, wood chips or shredded bark
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Step 1
Loosen the soil. Dig down the depth of one shovel. Turn over the soil and break up any hard clods. Remove rocks larger than small pebbles. Remove all weeds.
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Step 2
Improve the soil. Add up to a six-inch layer of finished garden compost and about a one- to two-inch layer of peat moss to the top of the loosened soil in the flowerbed.
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Step 3
Turn the soil over one more time, incorporating the compost and peat moss into the loosened soil. Dig the depth of one shovel to move down most of the compost and peat moss to where the roots of the flowers will grow.
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Step 4
Rake the bed smooth with a garden rake, breaking up any large clumps of soil.
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Step 5
Add a three-inch layer of organic mulch, such as buckwheat hulls, wood chips or shredded bark. Move the mulch aside when planting flowers and then push it back around each plant to help the soil hold moisture and prevent weeds from growing.
