I need to add richer soil and mulch to an existing gardens... Any sugestions?

Question

I have work very hard on restoring the garden in my yard, (neglected and overgrown for 9 years). It is on a hill and alot of the soil had dropped down from this hill above. There are day lillies, Irises, hostas, lily of the vally, and other perennials already in the garden. I have 60 or so other bulbs that I am going to plant. Can I add more soil and mulch without digging up the existing plants? The soil that is currently there is very sandy and does not drain well. What can I do to help this. I know adding compost and mulch will help the soil and with weedin. But what I don't know is what to do with the existing plants, When the best time to plant the new bulbs (they all need to planted before first frost, but before the mulch?), and how to mix the soil and add the mulch.
This is my first gardening attempt, so good so far but I've never taken it this far before. Any advise would be helpful
I live in northern Minnesota, (Zone 4b, a few miles from lake superior)

I have already fixed the errosion problem by raising the walls, each rock wall is now 1ft taller than it was. And when I add the compost to the soil it should help level the beds. (its a 3 tier garden on a hill, each level aprox. 4ft deep x 30ft long). It has been a lot of work removing all of the unwanted plants that have migrated their way in from around in the past few years. I'm sure I pulled quite a few flower in the process. My boyfriend called them yanking festivals, because I would be out in the garden yanking anything in reach. I had to call it selective thinning so I didn't fell bad about all the flowers I did yank out! I have thinned it to a point that now I can decide what to put where and decide what can be thinned out more and kept. It was all a discovery because it was my first year with the garden, and separating the lawn from the flowers that belong in there was a challenge. Next year I will have a better idea what will work best.

Answer 1

Mix in (using fork or spade) your organic, nutrient-rich soil amendments (ie. 50% mature compost & 50% well rotted manure) around your existing plants, then plant your bulbs (as soon as you can after buying them), mixing in this good soil into your bulb holes as well. Then when all is complete, mulch your beds with 2-3 inches of stuff , as it will gradually decompose and require a topping up every few years. Shredded bark mulch lasts a lot longer than others. When mulching, leave a little space around your plant's roots so they 'breathe' and do not rot from excess moisture. Unfortunately, adding soil amendments is not a one-time deal, for best results, you can add more every 2-3 years or every year if you're a real go-getter !For mulch application, drop a half a wheelbarrow every so often, then spread with the flat side of a wide flat garden rake or a hoe.

For planting bulbs, its easier to plant 12 bulbs at a time in one large hole, rather than individual holes. This will also look more natural, as bulbs will be clumped together and have more impact.
Animals love to eat many kinds of bulbs, so find out if you have those kinds (ie. tulips), and take extra measures to protect them (ie. imbedding a piece of wire mesh on top of them). Check internet or books , there are lists of bulbs that animals find less appetizing. Mark the soil where you have planted your bulbs with a twig or popsicle stick so you know where to avoid digging to deep in the future. One lady I know writes the name and colour of the bulbs on her markers, for future reference when choosing coordinating plants and colour schemes.

Lots of work, but very satisfying and therapeutic!!

Answer 2

You can certainly add compost now and work it in around the plants...just be sure you don't damage any plant roots.

If the plants are suffering, you might want to think about removing all the plants in the spring and giving the bed a total overhaul.....add lots of compost and maybe create some type of shelves to plant in to keep some of the soil from washing away. I had an area under an huge maple on a slope and I put rocks in to create shelves or large pockets to plant in.

You're in zone 4b so I'm guessing you'll have to start planting bulbs in mid to late Sept? I'm in zone 5, WI...so that's just a guess. I would plant the bulbs before you mulch. Also, mix the compost in with your existing soil really well so your new bulbs will have a healthy start.

Answer 3

Good advice-- I like the adding compost where there aren't any plants now and dig it in-if you disturb bulbs-- stick them back in the ground-with some bone meal---- don't forget leaves will be falling soon-- you can use your mower to chop them up and just put them where you want. The advice to take care of the soil washing away is very important-- and it really doesn't matter what you use-- you'll probably re-do it in the spring after you've thought about it over the winter.. Compost-- you can start with a bucket with a lid in your kitchen-- you can do what in Girl Scouts we called a "kitty hole" and put your kitchen waste in a kinda shallow hole every day and cover it up---it will decompose by spring--- don't forget coffee grounds and tea leaves-- and bananas are absolutely wonderful for roses..
I also have neglected garden spaces-- and it's slow just to identify what I have. So I'm taking out what I don't want, mulching with shreds of cedar or cypress 3 inches deep and waiting-- I think it'll take at least 3 years or more (depending on how energetic I am!!) to get the effect I want. I did invest in a good cedar fence across the back of my lot-- it's the canvas I want to plant in front of...... I also like shrubs-- but specimen types-- not a bunch of the same thing--I have forsythia, wegelia, crape myrtle and a holly to move from front to back-- so that's slow, too.
Use the winter to go thru catalogues and books-- and don't think you'll get it done in one spring-- doesn't happen.
There is a nice magazine-- Backyard living-- you might like to check it out-- also Birds and Blooms--
good luck

Answer 4

Just one thought to add to all the good answers. Skunks and other animals love bone meal and will dig up and destroy your bulbs when they go after it. A better answer is a commercial bulb food. Check at your local nursery or hardware store.

Answer 5

We used to use "Black Violet Soil" for this purpose.
Use a pitch fork or a "Garden Weasel" to mix.