USEFUL TIPS FROM Art That Grows
10 Soil Preparation Essentials - Useful Ideas, Tips and Best Practices concerning landscape and garden design, xeriscape and hardscape design, construction, installation and maintenance in the Dallas and surrounding North Texas area. For more information, call 214.987.0006.
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Perfect Practice, Makes Practice Perfect And, with your landscape and garden, following the best seasonal practices for our North Texas climate requires a merit-badge quality company to prepare for your lush, flourishing 2026 landscape. Follow these practice-perfect-practices at Art That Grows.
10 Soil Preparation essentials to creating a healthy landscape and garden:
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Remove leaves, twigs, and dead plants
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Till soil
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Add and turn-in 2” – 3” of engineered soil with compost enriched organic matter that supports actual plant growth
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Cover your beds with 3” – 4” layer of mulch to mitigate weed growth or
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Use a weed and feed to stop germination
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Replace nutrients with organic or select chemical fertilizers
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Mix-in small amount of Bonemeal or Superphosphate per square yard
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Make sure that irrigation is in place (before planting)
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Ensure proper drainage
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Consider area lighting (before planting)
Mulching Tips
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Use a Mulch and Soil Calculator to estimate the amount of mulch you’ll need for your project. Mulch is commonly sold in bags but may also be available in bulk, depending on the type and location. The area you can cover with a particular amount of mulch depends on the type of mulch and the desired depth.
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Most mulch benefits from edging to contain it. We will determine the type of during the landscape design.
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Heavy rain can wash some mulch away, especially on slopes. Consider using shredded wood which knit together to help the mulch stay in place.
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Don’t pile mulch directly against plants, shrubs, or trees. Instead, pull it back 1 or 2 inches. Mulch that touches stems and trunks can cause rot and provide shelter from which pests can feed. Piling mulch too deeply also encourages root growth in the mulch rather than the ground, creating a root system that’s more vulnerable to cold and drought.
For more information see: Lawn and Garden Tips and Landscape Design
Prepare now with a free landscape and garden consultation with Art That Grows. Send us a message using the form below, email to Mark@ArtThatGrows.com or call to Art That Grows at 214-987-0006.