Project details
Skill
1 out of 5EasyTypically requires only a little digging
Cost
About $200 to $400
Estimated Time
2 to 4 hours
Tools & Materials
- Edger
- Square shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Three-prong cultivator
- Garden fork
- Garden rake
- Plastic tarp
In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook creates an attractive, private garden.
Steps:
- Set a row of potted shrubs in line at the desired location of the privacy screen.
- Mark the outline of the planting bed by using a shovel or edger to cut into the ground 12 inches around the row of shrubs. Move the shrubs out of the way.
- Remove the grass from the planting bed with a square-blade shovel. Place the grass into a wheelbarrow and then dump it into the compost pile.
- Dig a trench for planting the shrubs, making it 2 inches shallower than the height of the root ball. Shovel the excavated soil onto a plastic tarp.
- Toss a few handfuls each of super phosphate and starter fertilizer over the planting bed. Lightly rake the soil.
- Remove a shrub from its pot and set it down in the planting bed. Rotate the shrub until its best face is pointing in the desired direction.
- Shovel soil around the root ball, checking to be sure the shrub is straight and not leaning over.
- Scratch at the root ball with a garden claw to loosen any matted roots.
- Backfill fully around the shrub, being careful not to shovel dirt on top of the root ball. Repeat to plant the remaining shrubs in the row.
- Sprinkle starter fertilizer around the base of each shrub, then scratch the fertilizer into the soil with the garden claw.
- Dig holes in the welcome garden bed for the flowering plants.
- Sprinkle a little starter fertilizer into each hole, then scratch the fertilizer into the soil.
- Use the claw to loosen matted root balls, then set the plants in the holes and backfill with soil.
- Set the shorter plants in the front of the garden, and taller ones in the rear.
- Thoroughly water each shrub and flowering plant.
- Wrap a soaker hose around the base of each shrub and flowering plant. Secure the hose to the ground with plastic stakes.
- Use a garden rake to spread 2 inches of bark mulch around the shrubs and plants. Be careful not to pile the mulch up against the plant stems.