Reviving a Flower Garden

Don’t panic if your spring garden lacks the vim and vigor the past. You can improve the health and beauty of your garden without starting over.

Remove any existing weeds and spread a one to two inch layer of compost over the soil surface in the garden. Earthworms, ground beetles and other insects will move it through the soil and eventually down to where the bulbs and flowers are growing. You can speed up the process with vertical mulching. Purchase one of the bulb planting auger bits. Drill holes into the soil between existing bulbs and perennials. This aerates the soil while moving the compost into the root zone of the existing plants.

Then mulch the soil surface with shredded leaves, pine needles or other organic matter. As these materials break down they too will be moved into the soil to improve the growing conditions for your bulbs and other plants.

A bit more information: Give perennials plenty of room to recover and reach their full size. Temporarily fill in voids with annuals like Blue Horizon ageratum, Profusion zinnia and other annuals for instant beauty. They add season long color and compete with weeds until the perennials fill the space.