Can a gardener have too much compost? I went and got a load for the garden. (Incidentally, I moved. Now I have a new yard to take care of. And the first thing I did was made sure I had a garden design. I’ve been doing them for other people, and I’m now a lover of my own product. Wouldn’t landscape without one. ) I top dressed all the beds by about an inch. It makes a great mulch, although it’s probably not stopping any weeds anytime soon.

I’m surprised that more people don’t do this. I like this post where she applies it to her lawn too. I used yard waste compost from the dump. It’s cheap at $20 a yard. The only problem with it is it can be somewhat variable in quality, including problems like high salts, but with low application rates (one inch or less) that shouldn’t matter too much. The layer of compost should help replenish my soil and also help break up the clay. I only wish it had been done consistently a long time ago.

I decided to start extending out my planting beds as well. Since we just moved I had lots of cardboard boxes. I flattened them out and laid them down with compost on top. We’ll see how it turns out in a couple months.

I also planted a new berry patch with ever-bearing strawberries, a fall bearing golden raspberry and a June bearing red raspberry. Some of the strawberrys I planted last fall in my old garden. They looked like they would be loaded soon, but with the move I’m not expecting much of a crop this year.

It’s flower time as well. While I was compiling a list of perennials I come across here, I was surprised at the number that bloom in late spring to early summer. In my garden I have peonies and columbines. I love using the peonies as cut flowers and I’ve been giving them away all over. There’s a big row the length of the driveway, so there’s plenty to share.

I also have harvested my first crops including lettuce, radishes, and chard. The veggies gardens all look great, although I was sad to lose my striped Armenian cucumber and french melon plants. I was excited to try both, but I guess I’ll have to do them next year instead.