- Loosen the bed 10–12 inches deep so roots can run. Cut flowers love loose, well-drained soil.
- Spread 2–3 inches of finished compost over the bed and work it into the top 6–8 inches. This is the single most important step.
- Heavy clay? (common in Utah) Add another inch of compost plus a little coarse sand or aged bark to open it up.
- Optional: mix in a balanced granular organic fertilizer (a 4-4-4 or 5-5-5) at the bag rate, roughly 1–2 lbs per 100 sq ft.
The easy rule: 2–3 inches of compost, worked into the top 6 inches, once a season. Hard to mess up.
2
Feeding Through the Season
- At planting: the balanced granular above, or a handful of slow-release food.
- Weeks 1–4 (getting established): go light. A diluted fish/kelp or balanced liquid feed every 2 weeks. Too much nitrogen early gives you leaves, not flowers.
- Once buds appear (about June on): switch to a bloom food — lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus & potassium (something like a 3-9-4) every 2 weeks.
- Little and often beats one big dose. Keep it consistent.
- Water deeply 2–3× a week at the base — not a shallow daily sprinkle.
- Deep watering grows deep roots, which means stronger plants and better blooms.