Hello Everybody :)
I am completely new to gardening and a little overwhelmed by all the info online and need advice on where to start.
Our first step and focus is a flower bed in front of the picture window. It's approximately 2.5ft x 8ft. It has been neglected for years and was full of dead plants, dead leaves, a few overgrown plants, old mulch, a couple puffball fungus and a small amount of stray rocks. It appears to be filled with the standard sand/dirt mix and not a premium soil mix. I started by clearing out as much plant and debris as I could. But that's where I'm stuck because I know it's not as simple as throwing down some flower seeds and water and waiting for it to grow.
What I'm looking for is some guidance on where to start. Of course I had A LOT of questions, but one step at a time, right?
My goal is to create a proper foundation where my plants and flowers can thrive successfully. I would eventually like to plant some simple landscaping of flowers and plants. I'm leaning in the direction of native and drought resistant varieties that do well in shaded areas.
Let's start with the dirt:
What are the first steps? How do I know if the existing dirt is healthy or has a rot/fungus/mold problem? Do I need to dig out the existing dirt and fill it with something like Miracle-Gro Garden Soil? Can a quality soil be put down and treated with a Miracle-Gro fertilizer?
Any help or being pointed in the right direction would be appreciated!
Thank you :D
