 Don't forget to ready your soil before planting a new perennial bed! First mark the edges of your bed so you can better visualize the shape and indicate the area to work. You might want to lay a long garden hose on the ground to experiment with shapes and sizes. Once you have decided on the extent of the garden, you are ready to clear any brush and/or strip off the sod. This is the preferred method rather than tilling under the grass; otherwise, the grass and any accompanying weeds may continue to sprout up. You may also be able to reuse the sod elsewhere. It is easiest to use a sharp edging tool to cut small pieces and roll up the sod. You might want to find a helper to speed this step.
Next work through the soil to remove any remaining weeds, stones, etc. Make sure your soil has the right amount of moisture for digging. Test it by grabbing a handful and making a fist. If you get a hard, wet ball that doesn't crumble, your soil is too wet and you should wait a few days. Working with wet soil can destroy its structure. In the case of dry soil, which is difficult to work, it is best to wet the soil well and wait a day or two before digging.
To prepare the soil by aerating and improving organic content, you can use a rotary tiller or a manual method called double digging. Starting at one end of your new bed, dig about a 2-foot wide trench about the depth of your spade and toss the soil into a wheelbarrow. Loosen the subsoil at the bottom of the trench, again to the depth of your spade. Next add a generous layer of organic material such as peat moss or compost. Right beside the first trench, dig a second trench and toss the soil into the first trench. Thoroughly mix the soil and the organic material. Continue this technique, trench by trench, across the entire bed. Replace the soil in the final trench with what you saved in the wheelbarrow. Lightly rake and level your new, enriched garden bed. You are now ready for planting or you may need to wait for the appropriate planting time of your chosen plants.
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