Step 5 - Prepare the Beds

Step 5 is to check the soil. My report came in on the soil samples. I need to add nitrogen and phosphorus and lower the pH a little. I added some blood meal, fully composted cow manure, and a little bone meal. I also dressed the top of the beds with some really nice flower and bed mix (brand: Calloways) from a local nursery.

It turned out the soil had to be amended further.

A bag of flower bed mix on the ground.

My niece Emily volunteered to help with the soil preparation. She checked each bed and removed the large clumps of soil, and any uncomposted branches, etc. I saved them for the compost bin.

A woman is digging in a raised garden bed.

Next Step: Build the Vertical Trellis