How to Prepare a Garden Bed for Planting

Mark out the size and shape with marking paint or string so you know the garden will look right in your overall landscape design.

Dig and turn the soil 6"-12" deep depending on the kind of soil you have. If it is dry and hard to dig, try moistening it first.

If your area has a problem with gophers and moles and you don't want to be constantly battling with them using traps or chemicals, you might want to consider laying metal hardware cloth at the bottom of your planter bed at 10"- 12" deep. Make sure the edges seal up against a firm edging or barrier. This should make a pest-proof barrier that will last for years. I really recommend this for vegetable gardens where you especially don't want to use chemicals.

Optionally rim your garden with an edging. Use bender-board or the vinyl equivalent to reduce invasion from other areas like lawns or gravel. You can also use more decorative edgings like brick, decorative molded fencing, cast iron, low wood fences or cement blocks.

If you live in a dry climate, now is the time to lay out your irrigation system. You can design it with PVC and sprinkler heads (I recommend the low-water usage styles) or go for drip irrigation, depending on the type of garden you plan to grow.

Remove larger stones, roots and sticks. And if your soil isn't wonderful, now is the best time to mix in amendments like compost or soil conditioners.

Water the garden bed so the lower soil is moistened and to keep any dust from the surface.

Now you're ready to set out your plants and start planting!