I had a large spot that needed soil improvement, so I decided to plant all the annuals there. That way I can improve the soil in the Fall after they die. I got SO used to the County providing mulch for years that it was getting hard NOT to get it the past few years. I guess it became too costly to run the loading equipment, So without mulch to dig into the soil (after aging it 2 years), the soil was rather hard.
First, I spent 2 hours digging it loose with the leverage fork. That's a great tool. A spading fork with a bar on the back for leverage. All steel! It can REALLY pull the soil up. It is the best thing to dig up all the grass weeds, too. I have that nasty grass that sends shoots underground about 12" before sending up another grass plant. I've been fighting it for several years and I think I finally have it beaten to extinction. But that's why I wanted to fill the space with annual plants this year. So I can do a final dig this next Fall after the annuals die.
And they will give great color this year. Its a good idea to always leave some space for annuals, season-long color is a good thing.
It was actually awful outside today. Not the temperature, the mosquitoes. They were there in desperate swarms. The child strength DEET works fine for a couple hours. But they were at my face and ears all the time. Thank goodness the stuff works! 2 hours out there in swarms and I only got 3 bites.
Here is the space before I started. I had some sadly planted Knautia there. An utterly unruly plant.
I moved then to an enclosed spot where they shouldn't cuse a problem. Then I double dug the whole space. It about killed me. I filled the area with annuals I grew from seeds. They dont looklike much nowm but they will grow fast. and produce good flowers.
And here is the space when I was done.
I bet they will be stars of the Garden Tour in late July! But we will have to wait to see.
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