Creating a new flower bed - this is how you think of everything

Planting plan

As a very first step, you create a planting plan in which the location, shape and size of the flowerbed and the appropriate planting are determined. When planning, you should either decide on a theme (e.g. a certain color or a limited flowering time) or put together a colorfully mixed perennial bed in which plants of different growth shapes and sizes, flower colors and flowering times are combined. In larger beds, other groups of plants such as onion flowers, shrubs or ornamental grasses are added.

Preparation of the bed

The perfect time to lay out the flowerbed is early autumn, when the soil is still warm from the sun and the first frosty nights are still a few weeks away. Dig up the planting area thoroughly, remove weeds, roots and stones, chop up the crumb and then rake the bed well.

Soil improvement

If necessary, a soil improvement is necessary in which you improve loamy soils with plenty of sand and compost and sandy soils with topsoil and compost. Compost in particular in combination with horn shavings (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) is a valuable resource and at the same time serves as a nutrient supply for perennials and other plants.

Mark planting areas and lay out perennials

Now mark the intended planting sites, which can be done with sand. You don't need to remove this later, just dig it under when you plant it. If you are satisfied with the overall picture, now lay out the perennials that are still potted. The planting plan can then be corrected if necessary, but you must always keep the following in mind when making any changes: The perennials will grow and some will be very large - the large, now so small-looking plants always belong in the background of the bed, the smaller ones to the front.

Plant perennials

Now dig the planting holes, which should be about twice the size of the plant's root ball. Do not plant the perennials deeper than they were previously in the pot, press them firmly and water them vigorously. You can then cover the flowerbed with bark mulch and, if available, with leaves. This not only keeps the moisture in the soil and serves as a natural fertilizer, but also protects the plants from the coming winter cold. If necessary, covering it with brushwood - preferably spruce or fir brush - as winter protection is useful later.