Soil Preparation

• 1). Dig all weeds and grass out of your flower bed. In "Texas Gardening the Natural Way," Howard Garrett recommends ensuring that all underground root systems and stems are removed.
  
  
• 2). Add native topsoil to the planting area to raise the flower bed height to within two inches of the adjacent grade.
  
  
• 3). Add six to nine inches of compost to improve the water- and nutrient-holding ability of sandy soils and add bulk and air to clay soils.
  
  
• 4). Add organic fertilizer at the rate recommended by the manufacturer for planting beds. Sandy soils in West Texas are nutrient-deficient and require supplementation.
  
  
• 5). Add dry molasses and cornmeal to feed microorganisms in the compost and soil, and to prevent diseases.
  
  
• 6). Till all ingredients with the native topsoil to a depth of six to eight inches.
  
  
• 7). Rake the top of the bed smooth. Your flower bed should be higher than the surrounding ground and have sloped sides. If drainage is a problem in your area, dig a slight ditch at the edge of the bed to facilitate drainage.
  
  

Planting

• 1). Select flowers and bulbs that will tolerate the climate in West Texas.
  
  
• 2). Plant seeds according to the directions on the seed packet and water in.
  
  
• 3). Transplant nursery flower stock by gently removing the plant from its plastic pot or tearing the peat pot in several places near the flower's roots and placing it in a hole of the same depth as the pot. Firm soil gently around the flower's stem and water slowly to remove air pockets.
  
  
• 4). Soak flower bulbs overnight in liquid seaweed prior to planting to help them get a good start. Add a tablespoon of earthworm compost at the bottom of bulb planting holes and plant at the depth recommended on the bulb package.
  
  
• 5). Mulch all bare soil at least two inches deep with native shredded materials. In West Texas, use native shredded cedar as recommended by Garrett. Mulch helps plants retain moisture and can buffer temperature extremes, which is critical in the arid climate of West Texas. Mulch also helps control weeds.