Preparing a Garden Bed - The Home Depot - Garden Club

Good soil preparation is the basis for any great garden. Take the time to do it right and you’ll save time and money in the long run, as your plants thrive and garden maintenance becomes minimal.

Step 1 Cut sod into strips 12 to 18 inches wide. Cut the strips by digging into the ground with a spade or edger, pushing the blade just below the roots — a depth of about 2 or 3-inches deep.
Step 2 Professionals remove sod with a sod lifter — a tool designed specifically for the job that can be rented or purchased at The Home Depot. Alternatively, you can put the handle of a spade close to the ground and kick the blade sharply to dislodge sod.
Step 3 You can reuse sod. Roll up the strips and remove them from the bed. Trim it into lengths of 2 to 4 feet. Replant as soon as possible.

Step 4 Work amendments, such as peat moss, manure or fertilizer, into the soil. Dig to a depth of at least 1 foot, then rake the bed smooth. To discourage growth of weeds, lay down landscape fabric, such as Weedblock, available at The Home Depot. Cut Xs in the fabric and root plants in the soil below. Cover the fabric with 2 to 3 inches of soil or mulch.

Preparing a Garden Bed - The Home Depot - Garden Club

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