Of all the steps in the creation of beds and borders, proper soil preparation should be given a very, very high priority. The "Science" part of landscape design consists of creating a proper environment for the growth and health of the plants you install. This all begins with the soil in which the roots will grow.

For some reason, it seems easier for people to get excited about "above ground" factors such as winter hardiness and sunlight requirements when working with plants in the landscape. However, the subsurface environment in our beds and borders is of equal or even greater importance to the long term survival and performance of our plants. The key to that environment, of course, is the condition of your soil.

It is my theory that people who we consider to have a "green thumb" are often those gardeners who truly recognize the importance of soil. They are the ones who are willing to put in the time and effort to provide their plants with the best growing media possible. To understand how soils and plants interact, we need to understand a few basic concepts including: