Getting Garden Beds Ready for Spring and Summer Planting
Preparing a garden bed for a new planting season begins with building a healthy soil foundation. Before introducing new plants, preparing the soil helps ensure they perform at their best. Organic matter, such as compost, can be added to improve soil structure, encourage earthworms, and provide nutrients. While compost is beneficial, it should make up no more than about 20 percent of the total soil volume. This balance allows plants to access nutrients from the native soil while still gaining the benefits of added organic matter.
Compost is incorporated by turning it into the soil using hand tools or mechanical equipment. This process breaks up compacted clods and creates a looser, more workable texture that supports root growth and water movement. As the organic matter mixes in, it improves soil texture and drainage while increasing the soil’s ability to retain moisture and nutrients.
After the soil is amended, the bed is smoothed and shaped with a rake to create a defined planting area. At this stage, a slow-release fertilizer can be applied evenly across the surface to provide a steady supply of nutrients the season. Because slow-release fertilizers are temperature-dependent, they are most effective at moderate soil temperatures. In warmer climates, they may not last the entire season and could require reapplication later.
Mulching follows soil preparation. Applying mulch before planting allows it to be easily moved aside when installing each plant. This method simplifies the planting process and helps maintain even coverage once planting is complete. It also reduces the risk of damaging young plants when spreading mulch afterward.
Plant selection is guided by environmental conditions within the bed, including variations in sunlight and moisture. In this case, a mix of plants is chosen to match these conditions while also creating contrast in height, texture, and growth habit. Purslane is placed along the outer edges, where the soil tends to be drier and receives strong sunlight. Its low-growing, spreading habit makes it well-suited to these conditions.
Moving inward, marigolds form a band of color and structure. Their upright growth and moderate size create a transition between the low-growing edge plants and the taller focal plants. In areas that retain more moisture, upright mandevilla plants are installed. These serve as the tallest elements in the design, adding vertical interest and acting as focal points.
Rather than arranging plants in straight rows, the layout uses grouped, overlapping clusters. This creates a more natural flow and allows the different plant forms to complement one another.
Before planting, the containers are set on the soil in their intended arrangement. This allows for adjustments in spacing and placement without the need to replant. Although the plants are small initially, they will grow significantly, so adequate spacing is important to accommodate their mature size.
When planting, holes are dug so that each root ball sits level with the surrounding soil. Any circling roots are gently loosened to encourage outward growth. Soil is then filled in around the root ball, and mulch is pulled back into place to cover the exposed ground.
The final step is to water the bed thoroughly to settle the soil and provide moisture for root establishment. With improved soil conditions, a balanced nutrient supply, and a thoughtful planting design, the bed is prepared to support steady growth and seasonal color.
Here are videos of previous plantings in this bed:
Preparing and Planting a Fall Annual Garden Bed with Ornamental Kale, Dusty Miller, and Pansies (2025): https://youtu.be/_HdB67z5p6M
Planting Colocasia, Coleus, Angelonia, and Begonias (2025): https://youtu.be/68iItXaNddQ
Planting Winter Flowers with an Edible Twist: Swiss Chard, Dianthus and Pansies (2024): https://youtu.be/9F2YOPyVIes
Planting Spring Annuals: SunPatiens, Sweet Potato Vine and Blue Ageratum (2024): https://youtu.be/4Y93rFDAZQQ
Planting Dusty Miller and Violas (2023): https://youtu.be/6XgmbkiuA44
Planting Coleus, Pentas and Vinca (2023): https://youtu.be/rX_JL5RVyT8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2022): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Salvia, Petunias and Marigolds (2022): https://youtu.be/spIR1RWWos8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2021): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Scaevola, Pentas and Vinca (2021): https://youtu.be/IXyvpwZdtpM
Planting Pansies and Tulips for Winter and Spring Color (2020): https://youtu.be/q_KC5NImM3Q
Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias (2020): https://youtu.be/B1FPkBZGSE4
Planting Daffodils, Dianthus, and Pansies (2019): https://youtu.be/Uxkwe7bM3aA
Planting Sunpatiens, Joseph's Coat, and Colocasia (2019): https://youtu.be/WF7yZmLVP8E
Planting Fall Flowers (2018): https://youtu.be/rajzfx4CfcA
Planting Summer Flowers (2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hcq5QZBqGU
Planting Dusty Miller and Pansies (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INCjtP7Nra8
Planting Petunias, Vinca, and Salvia (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3nCIOao5g
Planting Fall Flowers (2016): www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMe9SSz6sF4
Planting Summer Flowers (2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_kK0snShI
Related Videos:
Annual Flowers for Full Sun, Part-Shade, or Shade
Landscape Planning
Related Resources:
Mandevilla
Purslane
Marigolds
Compost is incorporated by turning it into the soil using hand tools or mechanical equipment. This process breaks up compacted clods and creates a looser, more workable texture that supports root growth and water movement. As the organic matter mixes in, it improves soil texture and drainage while increasing the soil’s ability to retain moisture and nutrients.
After the soil is amended, the bed is smoothed and shaped with a rake to create a defined planting area. At this stage, a slow-release fertilizer can be applied evenly across the surface to provide a steady supply of nutrients the season. Because slow-release fertilizers are temperature-dependent, they are most effective at moderate soil temperatures. In warmer climates, they may not last the entire season and could require reapplication later.
Mulching follows soil preparation. Applying mulch before planting allows it to be easily moved aside when installing each plant. This method simplifies the planting process and helps maintain even coverage once planting is complete. It also reduces the risk of damaging young plants when spreading mulch afterward.
Plant selection is guided by environmental conditions within the bed, including variations in sunlight and moisture. In this case, a mix of plants is chosen to match these conditions while also creating contrast in height, texture, and growth habit. Purslane is placed along the outer edges, where the soil tends to be drier and receives strong sunlight. Its low-growing, spreading habit makes it well-suited to these conditions.
Moving inward, marigolds form a band of color and structure. Their upright growth and moderate size create a transition between the low-growing edge plants and the taller focal plants. In areas that retain more moisture, upright mandevilla plants are installed. These serve as the tallest elements in the design, adding vertical interest and acting as focal points.
Rather than arranging plants in straight rows, the layout uses grouped, overlapping clusters. This creates a more natural flow and allows the different plant forms to complement one another.
Before planting, the containers are set on the soil in their intended arrangement. This allows for adjustments in spacing and placement without the need to replant. Although the plants are small initially, they will grow significantly, so adequate spacing is important to accommodate their mature size.
When planting, holes are dug so that each root ball sits level with the surrounding soil. Any circling roots are gently loosened to encourage outward growth. Soil is then filled in around the root ball, and mulch is pulled back into place to cover the exposed ground.
The final step is to water the bed thoroughly to settle the soil and provide moisture for root establishment. With improved soil conditions, a balanced nutrient supply, and a thoughtful planting design, the bed is prepared to support steady growth and seasonal color.
Here are videos of previous plantings in this bed:
Preparing and Planting a Fall Annual Garden Bed with Ornamental Kale, Dusty Miller, and Pansies (2025): https://youtu.be/_HdB67z5p6M
Planting Colocasia, Coleus, Angelonia, and Begonias (2025): https://youtu.be/68iItXaNddQ
Planting Winter Flowers with an Edible Twist: Swiss Chard, Dianthus and Pansies (2024): https://youtu.be/9F2YOPyVIes
Planting Spring Annuals: SunPatiens, Sweet Potato Vine and Blue Ageratum (2024): https://youtu.be/4Y93rFDAZQQ
Planting Dusty Miller and Violas (2023): https://youtu.be/6XgmbkiuA44
Planting Coleus, Pentas and Vinca (2023): https://youtu.be/rX_JL5RVyT8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2022): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Salvia, Petunias and Marigolds (2022): https://youtu.be/spIR1RWWos8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2021): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Scaevola, Pentas and Vinca (2021): https://youtu.be/IXyvpwZdtpM
Planting Pansies and Tulips for Winter and Spring Color (2020): https://youtu.be/q_KC5NImM3Q
Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias (2020): https://youtu.be/B1FPkBZGSE4
Planting Daffodils, Dianthus, and Pansies (2019): https://youtu.be/Uxkwe7bM3aA
Planting Sunpatiens, Joseph's Coat, and Colocasia (2019): https://youtu.be/WF7yZmLVP8E
Planting Fall Flowers (2018): https://youtu.be/rajzfx4CfcA
Planting Summer Flowers (2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hcq5QZBqGU
Planting Dusty Miller and Pansies (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INCjtP7Nra8
Planting Petunias, Vinca, and Salvia (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3nCIOao5g
Planting Fall Flowers (2016): www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMe9SSz6sF4
Planting Summer Flowers (2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_kK0snShI
Related Videos:
Annual Flowers for Full Sun, Part-Shade, or Shade
Landscape Planning
Related Resources:
Mandevilla
Purslane
Marigolds