# Bedding for Forget-Me-Nots
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Soil Preference
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Forget-me-not plants have two requirements that seem to contradict each other. They need soil that is well-drained but remains moist. This means that water must travel through the level of soils easily and not stand around the roots of the plant, but the soil must also retain moisture as the water passes through. In the wild, forget-me-not flowers are usually found along stream banks and in woodlands where soils are naturally loose and loamy and allow water to drain through but do not dry out quickly. Bedding soil for forget-me-not plants should mimic these conditions.
Clay Soil
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Growing forget-me-not plants in clay soil can present a challenge since clay soil does not drain easily. The soil must be amended to make it suitable as a bedding material for forget-me-not flowers. Till about 2 inches of sand into the soil. Make sure the soil is worked in at least 6 to 8 inches deep. Add about 2 to 3 inches of organic material to the bedding soil and mix it in at least 6 to 8 inches deep. Good organic material includes grass clippings, small wood chips or sawdust, compost and manure.
Sandy Soil
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If the bedding soil is sandy, water may pass through too quickly and the site will retain little water. Adding a large amount of organic material will help the garden bed retain the moisture needed to successfully grow forget-me-not plants. Work at least 3 inches of organic material, including grass clippings, compost, dried leaves, manure, wood shavings or sawdust, into the existing soil. If the site is especially sandy, add 1 to 2 inches of potting or gardening soil, as well. Be sure to till the organic matter and gardening soil down to a depth of at least six to eight inches.
Moisture Retention
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Even with the addition of organic material and other soil amendments, the bedding soil might not be able to retain enough moisture to keep forget-me-not plants happy during hot summer months. Add an inch or two of mulch on the surface to keep moisture in below the surface. Wood chips or rubber mulch chips are good choices. Straw can also be used as a mulch, but it may contain weed seeds and is easily blown or washed away.
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