Propagation: Plant propagation part XVI based on my own experience, 1 by evelyn_inthegarden

evelyn_inthegarden wrote:
This year I have been working on a new bed..."from the ground up"...so to speak. LOL

I have been in the process of double digging, as that is difficult for me, but my soil stinks as it is always hard clay full of weed and tree roots, since we live in a cleared forest area. I have to go out "to the woods" for getting good soil, as I have no idea this has been cleared...
The ground has to be watered before I can dig that hard clay, though parts of it are easier than others...where other plants were previously.

So I dig a trench, put in amendments and organic fertilizer, then put the soil on top, then a layer of organic compost mixed with peat. I will put notrohumes on the top of this. I am determined to get "moist, well-drained" soil, that every garden book says that plants require. It has been taking longer than I expected since I started it in fall, and then all the cold, wet weather has kept me out until now. I will admit to wanting to finishing this, so I can plant the seedlings and other plants waiting in the nursery bed. While I am doing this, the weeds are growing in the other beds...YIKES! It will be fall before any of this really looks even decent. I will step-by-step renovate all the beds as I go. Even though it is taking time, I feel that they will benefit in the end...if it doesn't kill me! Everything hurts, but I am beginning to feel stronger and the jeans are getting looser as I go. While all of this is going on, of course, everything needs to be watered and I stop and pull a few weeds every time I water as well.

Outside of hiring someone to help me, I hope to get things in good order by the end of summer. I was hoping for more dry springtime weather, but that did not happen, so I will do my best each day and hope to get all of this done, as well as have some time to start some more seeds for fall planting. Right now, it is pretty nice out there, so if you don't hear from me for a while, you know where I will be...

Here is a picture of the new "cottage garden" bed...just past the weeds...LOL...just looks like dirt right now...you will get a picture of it when it has flowers in it later on....