PLANTING TIP OF THE MONTH

In North Texas we mostly have  clay soil to work with. This can be a nightmare for many plants especially bedding plants. One solution (along with using high quality plants like we have at The Flower Ranch) is to dig out about a foot of the clay and back fill with a planting mix. If that is not an option or too labor intensive, try using a landscape mix to incorporate into the bedding area to help break up the clay.

Peat moss, Fine Pine bark mulch, high quality potting soil, compost or any organic land-scape amendment all work well and decompose in the bed to create a better planting area. Also using a Pine Bark Mulch each planting to top dress your bed is a great idea. The Pine Bark Mulch breaks down and decomposes into the bed faster than a Hardwood mulch or Cedar mulch does. And this decomposition is a good thing for planting areas.

Another solution for clay soils to go along with  the amending idea  is to create a berm, raise the bed above grade level. This allows for better drainage and air flow between waterings. 

Amending and adding compost materials to the bed many times will in fact raise the bed a few inches above grade. So by using one method you have created both scenarios and your flowers will be much happier.