preparing the soil for spring planting - gardening

I am way behind by Southern California standards but I finally got outside and prepared the soil in my backyard flower bed for spring planting.  I had already cut back the roses but that's all I got to before our premature heat wave sent me running for shade.

Aside from clearing out the fallen leaves and pruning the perennials the most important step is always
amending the soil and replacing nutrients before I can do the fun stuff...putting in the spring blooms.

This year it took actually buying a trunk full of pretty flowers to get me in gear but once I started there was no stopping me.

I always add a bag of chicken manure and a bag of good quality garden soil to the beds once they've been cleared of leaves and weeds.  As well as a good quality systemic fertilizer like Osmocote all over the flower bed.

After the debris is cleared I spread a layer of chicken manure and a layer of fresh soil evenly throughout the bed.  I will then go over it with a hoe making sure I mix it in well with the existing soil.  Lastly I sprinkle some Osmocote on top.  When I put in new flowers I will add a few granules of fertilizer to the hole as well.

I like using a hula hoe to turn the soil over and mix in the fresh nutrients.  If you've never used a Hula-ho before I highly recommend one.  It weeds and turns the soil over at the same time and since it's pretty narrow, it fits most everywhere in the garden.  I use it often during the gardening season for general weeding as well.  It makes quick work of a dreaded job but necessary job.

Even my hubby has caught the gardening bug and has started a few vegetables in these cute little 2 x 3 raised beds that he built over the weekend.  It really does show that it doesn't take much space to grow a few plants of your own.  Just a spot with around six hours of sunshine and a handful of seeds.

All the hard work pays off immediately with the beauty of a newly planted flower bed.  But as pretty as this looks now, it pales in comparison to what it will look like in a few short weeks and for months to come.

So what about you?  Once the weather permits, will you be out there digging in the dirt and planting a flower or vegetable patch of your own?  If not, I challenge you to find a big pot or a little piece of dirt and give it a try.  I guarantee you won't be sorry.

xo, Patty