To get rid of the Gregg’s Mistflower (which doesn’t get enough light there), and the grass which has been persistent since we moved in, I dug out several inches of the dirt in the front flower bed in December. Winter ice packed down the clay, so before we put new soil in I used a mattock to break up the packed surface.

My husband hauled over the new bedding dirt and filled in the flower bed, amended with chicken compost.

Weather reports say we should be getting a solid rain. We’ll see how much the bed settles then get plants and mulch.