- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Replacing soil in flower bed
Posted on 3/26/19 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 3/26/19 at 1:08 pm
This will be our first spring in this house, and we want to start totally fresh...it looks like the previous homeowners neglected the flower bed for years. We pretty much pulled all the weeds last weekend and now want to replace the soil and plant. A few questions:
1. I've read that after replacing soil, you should let soil sit before planting. Is this true? If so for how long? And I'm kinda curious...why?
2. How deep should I dig out the previous soil?
3. Is there a preferred kind of soil you guys use? (North Louisiana). I think we are going to top with mulch of that helps.
Lastly, any tips a first time planter should be armed with?
Thanks!
1. I've read that after replacing soil, you should let soil sit before planting. Is this true? If so for how long? And I'm kinda curious...why?
2. How deep should I dig out the previous soil?
3. Is there a preferred kind of soil you guys use? (North Louisiana). I think we are going to top with mulch of that helps.
Lastly, any tips a first time planter should be armed with?
Thanks!
5
Posted on 3/26/19 at 2:23 pm to scott8811
No need to replace the soil. For permanent plants, dug a large hole and full with vegetable gardening soil. For everything else, put down a nice thick layer of compost and till it in. Fertilize you plants as needed.
If you aren’t in a hurry, get a soil sample done.
If you dig down and hit clay within 6” then you may want to dig them out and replace with top soil
If you aren’t in a hurry, get a soil sample done.
If you dig down and hit clay within 6” then you may want to dig them out and replace with top soil
This post was edited on 3/26/19 at 2:25 pm
Posted on 3/26/19 at 2:28 pm to CoachChappy
quote:
No need to replace the soil.
Really? It's a step we really don't mind. And figured it would be better. The only thing that's been planted in there for what appears to be years are three tiny bushes.... the flower bed itself was covered with a layer of really sunbleached pine straw, so obviously it's been there awhile.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 2:31 pm to scott8811
Don’t replace your soil......just amend what you already have, and you’ll be fine.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 2:34 pm to HonoraryCoonass
So I know it probably needs to be tilled... anything else I should do?
Posted on 3/26/19 at 3:14 pm to scott8811
Read labels. Select plants that fit your bed’s size and sun requirements.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 3:14 pm to HonoraryCoonass
I just finished adding and raising my perennial flower beds. Worked it with shovel first then added spaghnum peat moss and my back yard composting and garden soil I bought. Mixed it all up in wheelbarrow and added to flower beds and turned it again to mix well and added Amaze preemergence herbicide. I know it’s a lot of work for 90 feet of flower beds. Consulted Dan Gill and advised to add organic matter to help stop rain and down spouts from flattening beds.
This post was edited on 3/26/19 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 3/26/19 at 4:58 pm to scott8811
Use Preen on weeded dirt. It will prevent weeds that start from seeds.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 7:09 pm to scott8811
quote:
Really?
Really. Just till it and follow directions that I and everyone else have given. I can’t talk up mixing in compost enough though.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 7:11 pm to scott8811
You don’t have to totally replace the soil. When you plant next buy “soil conditioner” and replace your planting hole with 50/50 mix of soil conditioner & native soil.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 7:46 pm to scott8811
Find a landscape materials supplier in your area and tell them what you want to do. They will have everything you need (bed builder/pre emergent herbicide/fertilizer/mulch) and can probably give good advice if they’re staffed by people like I deal with in my area. DO NOT add top soil to your beds...all you’ll be doing is adding many more weeds/grass to the beds! Bedbuilder is the same mixture the plants grow in at the nursery...in my area it retails around $40-42 a yard.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 9:31 am to CoachChappy
Ok....were gonna just till and add instead of totally replace. One possibly last question. There is a layer of mulch and pine straw that's basically part of the soil now. Should we be sure to remove as much of that as possible before we mix it up and put it back?
Posted on 3/27/19 at 9:50 am to scott8811
Till it in baw. Mulch adds microorganisms to the soil and pine mulch doesn't hurt or help anything. You're just asking for extra work trying to remove and rid of it.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 10:04 am to WhiskeyThrottle
Thank the lord!!! Was really hoping I could just till it in!! 
Posted on 3/27/19 at 12:20 pm to scott8811
Depends on what you are planning on soil type. And I wouldn't say you have to let it sit, just be prepared for it to settle the first 3 to 6 months, and adjust plant depth accordingly.
ETA: Go to Bailey's Bark Materials off of I49 for your soil if you need a cubic yard or more. 1 cubic yard of a 50/50 mix of pine park mulch and mushroom compost cost $35. I would have had to pay $130 plus for that much at Home Depot / Lowes.
ETA: Go to Bailey's Bark Materials off of I49 for your soil if you need a cubic yard or more. 1 cubic yard of a 50/50 mix of pine park mulch and mushroom compost cost $35. I would have had to pay $130 plus for that much at Home Depot / Lowes.
This post was edited on 3/27/19 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 3/27/19 at 12:40 pm to LSU0358
I added 12" of depth to my garden bed 2 years ago and it settled to about 7 or 8" by the end of the year.
Topped it back off this season.
Topped it back off this season.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 1:11 pm to LSU0358
Thanks for the tip, but 1 cubic yard may be way more than I need, but not sure.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 1:43 pm to scott8811
A cubic yard of material (soil) can be spread to cover 100 square feet (10×10 foot area) at 3 inches of depth.
You can use this as a gauge.
You can use this as a gauge.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 2:55 pm to Themole
awesome...I'll measure the beds when I get home, but I feel like that's gonna be a lot for me.
Page 1 of 1
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News