How Much To Add

by Anita
(Crestview, Florida (Okaloosa))

I'm a new gardener, just planted about 80 canna lilies in beds dug all round the house and deck in front, this past Spring. I got a Mantis tiller to do that with. Now, it is almost time to dig up the canna lilies and divide them. I have this gardeners fabric weed control fabric. The plan is to dig up all the cannas and divide them, then add compost to the beds, after all the weeds have been pulled up by roots, then put on the cloth holding it all down with staples. Cutting X's where I want my cannas to go and replanting them. I want this bed to be a great home for my canna lilies. So, since I have a tiller, should I add 1 part compost, 1 part something else (and what something else) to 3 parts of the existing soil? I will be buying the compost as I'm not quite prepared to make mine yet.
joyce

Doug says that given you're in Florida - you should add as much compost as you can every year. The heat will cause the organic matter to be used up in a single season so it's not a one-time event.

Putting shade fabric down over a garden like that is not a great long-term plan for success. It can work for shrubs but when it comes to plants that will require digging, dividing, and maintenance (not to mention adding compost) you're going to be very disappointed with how it work.

But the answer to your question is the more compost, the merrier and the better your bulbs will grow. You can add peat moss (more organic matter in Florida soils is good) and it too will be consumed quickly in the heat.

The key to growing great plants is organic matter and you simply can't add too much in areas like yours where it is consumed so quickly by nature.