Re: Re: New Beds in zone 8

My favorite way of making a new bed is the newspaper and mulch way.  Fall is
the ideal time for this method, but the way this winter is going in zone 6,
you could probably do this now.  Lay a thick layer of newspaper down, water
it to hold it in place, and cover with about 4 inches of mulch.  By spring,
the grass has died as well as a lot of the weed seeds.  You don't have to
till the entire area, just dig a hole where you want a plant, amend with a
generous amount of compost, add your plant, water and move to the next place
you want a plant.  This is a superb way to plant a garden in an area where
it's difficult to dig.

The road next to our house was moved 60 feet away from our house and the
ground where the old road was is very compacted and almost impossible to
dig.  I have successfully planted three island beds and have even planted
shrubs this way.

I also use roundup to make new beds.  It's relatively safe and it's easy to
tell where you need to dig once the foliage has died.  I usually till with a
Mantis, one of my favorite gardening tools, rake the dead grass out--don't
put on compost pile--wait a couple of weeks for the weed seeds to germinate,
till again, apply compost and then you are ready for planting.

I like both methods.

Good luck,

Ginny

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