Daughter Kris has argued that I need to write an article about bed preparation and planting. To me that is an easy assignment.

You dig a hole, put the plant in it at the proper depth, dump in a bit of water and cover the roots or root-ball. About the only place you can screw up is with the planting depth. Generally, if you plant at the same level as it was in the container you purchased, you are safe. Experience or asking questions will help you refine that process.

Almost without exception, the natural soil in our area will support most of our plants with little effort. The only thing that is slightly out of whack is the level of organic material in the soil. Adding compost may not be necessary but is never a bad idea.

Although we are blessed with calcium-based soil, pH can also be an issue to address in a few instances. Rhododendrons and their friends like it a bit more acidic but are seldom a problem. Growing blueberries or blue hydrangeas will require a bit of a struggle to lower the soil pH. A few garden vegetables, like sweet corn, may call for additional lime occasionally.

If you live in an existing house, dig and plant. New construction may be a bit dicey. It seems the building process calls for the removal of topsoil, building and then spreading a layer of topsoil on top of what is left.

This causes two problems. First you end up with less top soil than desirable because they sell the rest and any time you move or add soil you are temporarily destroying the natural capillary action of the soil. Time will heal both of these problems.

I almost forgot what I consider to be the most important factor. What about weeds? Simply put, they are easier to deal with before you plant. My advice is to slow down and do it, even if it delays planting.

Right now I am intently watching the roadside of a new development in the area. On day one they made a ridge, or mound, with the topsoil that will be missing from some future yard. On day two they planted thousands of dollars worth of plants. Then they threw eight handfuls of mulch around each plant. I counted. By week eight the weeds are coming with vigor.

I'll end with my favorite gardening experience. Fifteen years ago it was late March and I was struggling to open a new business. It was a wet spring and I needed a walk to several greenhouses. Of course the leveling bulldozer had raped the site of its topsoil.

With my trusty 60 horsepower tractor I plowed through the mud with scoop after scoop of stones. We opened, and the ruts stayed undisturbed for several months. After the spring rush I drug about a half dozen torn bags of peat moss across the ruts. Next came the rototiller. Finally, I grabbed leftover perennials and stuffed them in the ground.

The next spring more people than I could count asked me who designed that garden.

I fear daughter Kris will be dismayed at this edition. If it's too bad maybe she will write giving you proper instructions next week.