Uncomposted organic material should be avoided because it can deplete nitrogen from the soil. It usually takes about 3 inches of organic matter incorporated into the top 12 inches of soil, or 1 cubic yard of organic matter per 100 square feet of surface area to achieve the desired level of soil improvement. However, considerably less organic matter may be required if a bed was cropped previously. Once plants are installed, place mulch on the soil surface. Use your hands to carefully apply mulch around the plants and try to avoid covering the foliage.
Water is one of the most critical steps of the planting procedure.
A thorough watering immediately after planting will eliminate air pockets around plant roots. Some people also like to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to the bed if the site is known to have a history of weed problems. Healthy plants can generally survive short periods of temperatures down to the single digits without protection. However, when the air temperatures are expected to drop below 20 degrees F for a considerable length of time you may want to consider special freeze protection measures. Pine straw helps trap heat in the soil, prevents it from freezing and greatly reduces exposure to cold, desiccating winds.