How To: Plant Beds

Here is how we created our latest Native Plant Bed. This is an extension to the bed along the front and side of the house. We widened the bed and surrounded an existing tree. All* of the plants used are started from seeds gathered during programs with the Summit Metro Parks or were purchased at the annual Summit Metro Parks Plant Sale. There are also splits from plants elsewhere on the property.

* The side bed is called our "Grandmother's Bed." It contains non-native plants that were favorites of our grandmother's and have a special place in our hearts.

Prelude: Cardboard

Have a firm idea of the size of the bed and figure how much cardboard you will need. Tip: It's more than you think.

Cardboard will smother grass and anything else underneath it. It will continue to act as a weed barrier. With time, and rain, it will naturally soften and degrade. In lieu of cardboard, heavy landscape fabric or newspaper can be used.

Anything with a glossy surface should be avoided as this prevents water permeating. Try to minimize the printing to reduce the amount of ink leeching into the ground.

Remove as much packing tape as possible! Carboard can be lightly scored and a layer pulled away allowing tape and labels to be quickly removed. Most of the tape can be peeled off, though. Watch out for staples! These large metal staples are used to secure tops and bottoms of boxes. They can be very sharp but easily removed with care or simply cut away.

Step One: Have a vision and a plan

We want to reduce the amount of lawn, so this project was particularly... aggressive. Moving out from the house allowed for more plants and more space for them. Keeping plants away from the house was a major consideration so a deeper bed gave plenty of room.

Incorporating the tree ties the project together and makes mowing easier.

We had a layout in mind of how many plants we would have and where they would be placed. All of our plantings are native perennials and will develop into a variety of shapes and sizes with diverse textures and colors. We spent some time envisioning a fully mature bed to be visually interesting and sustainable.

With all this in mind it is time for... THE HOSE!

Step Two: Layout, with... THE HOSE!

Lay out the shape of the bed with one or more garden HOSE (all hail THE HOSE!) This allows you to see how your vision will look in place. With the hose you are able to adjust the shape, refine the area, and begin to get a better sense of how it will all come together.

Optional Step: Edging

With this bed we didn't dig an edge that would sharply define the bed. Doing this helps mulch or leaf litter from rolling into the lawn, giving a well-defined barrier that looks crisp. For expediency we decided to not do this. We opted to edge the bed with rocks. We have plenty of rocks.

Step Three: It's happening! It's really, really happening!

Lay down carboard so it covers the grass completely. We did a single layer with plenty of overlaps. If called for, you can carefully trim it so it conforms to the shape of the bed. Lay down sections rather than the whole if it is a little windy.

You can soak it before topping it. This will help soften it so if lays better as well as adding moisture to the bed.

Spread several inches of topsoil to cover the cardboard and fill the area of the bed. Watch that the cardboard doesn't lift and remains flat and is completely covered.

Step Four: Plant

Lay out the plants in the bed and adjust as necessary to match your vision.

Once you are satisfied it's time to get them in the ground. Pull back enough dirt to reveal the carboard and cut away as much as you need to get the plant into the ground. We found that cutting an 'X' and folding the flaps under or tearing them off is easiest. Once in place, back fill the plant and move on. Give everything a nice watering.

Step Five: Cover

Once everything is in place cover the bed with mulch or leaf litter.

That's all there is to it.