Shiplap and Shells

Home and Garden in the PNW

  • My Blog
    • Home Decor
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
        • Winter Holiday & Christmas Inspiration
      • Our 100-Year-Old Beach House
      • Entertaining
    • Garden
      • Growing a Cut Flower Garden Series
      • Tips and Tutorials
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Saltwater Sounds Wrap-Up
    • All Things Vintage
    • Projects
    • The Pacific Northwest – PNW
      • Boating
    • Stories
      • Travel
  • Shop My Favorites
    • Winter Shopping Favorites
    • Shop for Your Garden
    • Shop My Amazon Store
    • Shop My Home
  • Meet Kim
  • Tour My Home
  • Contact Me

in Garden· Growing a Cut Flower Garden Series· Spring· Tips and Tutorials· Winter

How to Prepare Your Cut Flower Garden Beds for the Spring Season

  • Facebook
  • Email

Are you growing a flower garden this year? Here are some steps to take when preparing your garden beds for spring planting.

snapdragons and green chair in garden

See all the blog posts in the GROWING A CUT FLOWER GARDEN series HERE.

This is the time of year when every gardener gets excited by the thought of getting their hands dirty again.

There’s a plan for your cut flower garden. The flower seeds have been purchased. So now what?

The key to a successful garden starts before the first plant has even been placed into the ground. Here are some of the steps I take before I transplant my flower starts into the garden beds.

I’m not a Master Gardener, but a self-taught hobby gardener who shares my opinions and what has worked for me in the garden.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links are used for your convenience. Read my full disclosure here.


raised beds in cut flower garden

Finding the Right Location for a New Garden Bed

If you don’t already have an established garden bed, your first step to preparing your new flower garden is to find the right location. Check to make sure there aren’t any tree roots or buried utility lines in the area where you’re considering growing your garden, and that the space has healthy soil with adequate drainage.


cut flower garden in June

Testing and Preparing Your Soil

Perform a Soil Test

Experts recommend you perform a soil test to check the nutrient and pH level before planting your seed starts. This will not only give you a better understanding of how your soil will perform but what amendments are needed to be added to the ground.

There are soil test options available. You can buy an inexpensive soil test, or hire a local garden resource center to test your soil conditions.



Many beginning gardeners pass on this step but usually end up never making the same mistake twice. It is such an important part of the process.


seedlings planted in cut garden

Soil Prep

You always get what you put into your garden, and soil preparation is an investment in your garden’s future that you don’t want to skip.

Work the soil when it’s moist to help maintain good air porosity and soil structure. To check your soil moisture content, pick up a handful of soil and squeeze it. You want the soil to stay in a ball in your hand and then break apart when tapped.

Soil can be compacted over time from heavy rain and other forces, so it’s important to loosen the soil before planting. In order to remove rocks or roots, use a shovel or garden fork to turn the soil when it’s dry and crumbly.



wheelbarrow full of leaf mulch

Feed Your Soil

Having the right soil is important when preparing your garden beds.

Compost has many benefits such as improving the soil structure, enhancing soil fertility, helping to retain moisture, and providing nutrients that are needed for healthy plant growth.

If you’re planting flowers in an existing bed that you used last year, add a 2–3-inch layer of compost to the bed in spring. Turn it into the soil, using a shovel or garden fork going at least 12 inches deep. After turning this compost into the soil, you may want to put another layer on top of the soil to act as mulch.

If you add organic matter in the fall, it isn’t necessary to add more in the spring, but adding compost twice a year can help improve poor quality soil much more quickly. The organic matter gets used up each year and needs to be replenished to keep plants performing their best. The most important thing you can do for your soil is to consistently add organic matter to enrich the soil and help your plants grow healthier. 


seedlings planted in raised bed

Plan a Water System

The garden bed soil needs to stay evenly moist, but never soggy. Because it’s important to avoid overhead watering, soaker hoses and drip irrigation is a great way to water at the root zone only. Place the irrigation lines immediately after adding soil amendments.

This is what we used in our garden…



Manage Weeds

Using landscape fabric is one of the efficient ways to stay ahead of the weeds in your garden. Another way is to invest in a lightweight hoe.



Covering beds in a thick layer of organic matter is a great way to suppress weeds.


planting seedlings in raised beds

Planting Your Garden Beds

After amending your garden beds, laying the irrigation lines, and managing the weeds, it’s finally time for the moment we all have been waiting for. Planting your flower seedlings, perennials, or bulbs.

Use Your Garden Plan

Use the garden plan you’ve created to space your seeds or plants. When planting your seedlings, make sure the plant’s crown is at or just slightly above the soil surface. It’s so important that the plants don’t get stressed after they’re in the ground and rooting in. Water all new plants deeply and right away. By giving a weekly application of liquid seaweed and fish emulsion, it benefits plants by…

  • Feeding the young plants
  • Lessens transplant shock
  • Builds up their immune systems for the future.


cut flower garden in sunset

I hope this post has given you some valuable information when preparing your garden beds for spring planting. Remember, the success of your garden starts before the first seedling, perennial or bulb has even been planted into the ground.

I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

Until next year.

Happy Gardening!


More Information about Seed Starting Indoors

My favorite gardening friend, Stacy of Bricks ‘n Blooms has written a post sharing everything you will need to start seeds inside, even without a greenhouse. Make sure you check it out!


PIN AND SAVE ON PINTEREST

If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, please pin and share this on Pinterest.

Here are the other posts available in my “Growing a Cut Flower Garden“ Blog Series just in case you missed one…

  • My New Blog Series – Growing a Cut Flower Garden
  • Planning Your Cut Flower Garden
  • My Seed Selection for the New Year’s Cut Flower Garden
  • Supplies Needed for Seed Starting
  • Seed Starting 101 – Growing a Cut Flower Garden Series
  • Step-by-Step Tutorial on the Seed Starting Process
  • Facebook
  • Email

Filed Under: Garden, Growing a Cut Flower Garden Series, Spring, Tips and Tutorials, Winter

Stay Connected and Get all the Latest

Previous Post: « Shiplap and Shells – Weekly Wrap Up
Next Post: Creating a Tablescape with Beautiful Blooms and Touches of Spring »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim Waldorf says

    02/16/2021 at 4:47 am

    This info is so helpful to me. This is my first year of planting a cutting garden. Thanks for sharing all your helpful posts! Wish me luck! 🍀

    Reply
    • Kim says

      02/27/2021 at 3:52 pm

      I am definitely wishing you lots and lots of luck. I know your garden will look amazing Kim. Can’t wait!

      Reply
  2. Barkat says

    02/14/2021 at 8:31 am

    Hi
    Beautiful post blog. I read. Wonderful idea.

    Reply
    • Kim says

      02/14/2021 at 12:39 pm

      Thank you Barkat! Have a great week!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Meet Kim

Hi! I'm Kim. Welcome to my home & garden blog, Shiplap and Shells. We live in a small 1920 beach cottage in the Pacific Northwest and have spent the last 10 years renovating, reinventing, and adding character to our forever home. Read More…

Up to 40% Off cozy scents for Christmas

Find what you’re looking for

Let's Connect

Stay up to Date

shop my home

  • My Blog
  • Shop My Favorites
  • Tour My Home
  • Meet Kim
  • Contact Me

Footer

Find What You’re Looking For

Follow Along

Disclaimer and Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Market Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress ·