Expanding Cut Flower Beds - Lazy Method - Sideyard Garden - March 2026

One of my 2026 to-do items is to 'expand the beds in Fall'.  I say 'Fall' because of how I utilize what I call the "lazy method" of smothering out the turf with cardboard.  That means that in addition to materials like cardboard and municipal biosolids, I need time.  Time for the grass to die.  Time for the cardboard to breakdown.  And time for the biosolids to MELLOW OUT.  

Last year, I missed the Fall window to do some bed extensions, so I started to do them this Spring.  The first one was a few weeks ago with the Island Bed taking on new edges.  I used cardboard, municipal biosolids and composted manure to create a blend that I'll plant up (and mulch) later this Spring. 

In the sideyard, I want to do the same thing:  expand the beds along the foundation to be more proud of the house.  Last year, I planted out the Dahlias in late May/early June.  I like to have about six weeks of time between laying down these bed extensions and planting them up.  

Call it May 15th for planting.  That means getting these lazy beds done by April 1st keeps me on schedule.  This post is going up at the end of March, but I did these about two weeks ago, so call it mid-March.  That gives me eight weeks of 'mellowing time'.  Perfect.

Last year, I grew four dahlias in the sideyard (I think).  One Collarette (Pooh) and three Melina Fleur dahlias along with four Disneyland Roses on the southside of our house.  They grew in foundation beds that are long/linear along the house. 

I originally expanded part of these beds in May 2024 when I created a 'bump-out' around the basement window well for some dahlias and zinnias that season.  This year, I'm going to try to expand most of the length of the bed by adding about a foot-or-so to the front edge.  

Below are a number of photos showing the process.  Starting with the portion of the bed closest to the gas meter.  Here, below is the 'before' photo showing the existing bed along with a bunch of material from the last growing season that I did the ole' 'chop-and-drop' method over the Winter to try to return some of the organic materials back to the soil.  

The process that I've been using this Spring is to first lay down the cardboard, then pile on some leaf litter from the adjacent beds to provide some carbons to help mingle in with the nitrogen-heavy municipal biosolids.  

The Oak leaves are always the last to break down, so they're plentiful around my beds right now.  

Unlike how I approach the Island Bed extensions, for these, I did NOT create a cut edge.  Instead, just letting the cardboard 'show' that new edge.  

However, one difference here is how the grade is handled.  The current beds slope downwards to a low spot.  So, I ended up piling up the biosolids and composted manure a bit higher at the edge vs the back of the cardboard. 

Using some cut cardboard strips, I worked my way back from the gas meter area to the existing bump-out.  Below is a look after two segments are installed with the third one's cardboard not yet placed in the final destination:

Here, below, is the third segment in-place - showing the 10-12" extension of the bed that has been created.  Also, note the cardboard edge peeking out.  When I go to finish these beds later this Spring, we'll create a proper edge.  

Below are two more looks - showing all three segments of these lazy bed extensions in place.  

I have (at least) three more to go to extend the beds all the way back towards the fence.  

With all the new dahlias I have to plant this year, I'm hoping to get seven-or-eight in this bed.  And, I want to get the structure in-place early in the season. 

A reminder to future Jake:  remember these photos showing the underground utility locations painted before digging to plant the tubers.  And, erecting the structure, too.