I'm looking to fix up my garden, and I'm really starting from scratch since I've got no gardening experience at all. My goal is to have it filled with seasonal flowers! Here are a few key points I need help with: 1) I'm not sure what kind of soil I have. Should I completely remove it and start fresh? 2) What tools do I absolutely need to make this work? 3) Is it necessary to create a gradient in the soil for drainage? It looks like there used to be one to keep water from pooling against the concrete wall. I've included some pictures to show the current state of the garden: https://imgur.com/sSOnR89 https://imgur.com/yCw7ohK
2 Answers
You don’t have to strip all the soil, just improve it! Clear away any debris and dead bushes. Mix in some compost or shredded leaves if you can find them, and definitely get rid of any weeds. For flowers, I recommend planting Phlox and Salvias since they bloom all season, plus adding Zinnias for some beautiful cut flowers. That'll give your garden some great color!
First off, check the gaps between your foundation and bricks; that's important for heat and water drainage. You don’t want the soil too high against the bricks. It looks like the last owner did some work that exposed larger rocks. For tools, just grab a spade or a hori-hori knife—they’re perfect for digging and weeding. You can find compost in bags at most home improvement stores or places that sell mulch.
So I should keep the soil just below the brick level to cover the foundation wall completely? That makes sense!
I can't find shredded leaves, but can I use a mix of topsoil, grade it downward, and then mulch before planting my flowers?